Shining Up Some Pennies! About This Page:

[bradk]

1982 is when the core changed, but it's impossible to tell which in 1982 have which core, so the choice has been pre-1982.

but the newer machines that are operated by push button and not crank don't appear to have those issues with newer pennies.

[Straitlover]

Texas Pete hot sauce also works!

[Veronica_K]

thanks for bringing this up! I didn't think about the change in the pennies, I was just going to get a new roll from the bank. Will start digging around for old ones. I love pressed pennies!!

[MIKO]

Now I have to start sorting pennies all over again .. I had noticed that the shiny pennies looked a little different - i got this from the U S MINT Website : The penny remained 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc until 1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper (copper-plated zinc). Cents of both compositions appeared in that year.

So now I am getting only older pennies to shine up. Thanks for the heads up on the penny composition. Now I know !

[Wendyismyname]

Interesting!! Thanks you guys!! After 25 trips, I'm looking at ways to keep things "fresh" and maybe we'll start collecting pressed pennies!! Goodness knows we've got plenty of them!

[Tink1769]

And just a tip for you "newbie" penny pressers:

You might want to get the design pressed onto the "face" of the penny because the "tail" side sometimes leaves parts of the monument and you end up with an incomplete image.

Generally, if you insert the penny so that the "face" side is to the right, that is the side that will be pressed with the design. Also the quarter to the far left tends to be the quarter that gets pressed in Quarter Presses.

[bradk]

again, the age of the pennies no longer appears to make much of a difference at WDW

[RobDVC]

I've used Coca-Cola and ketchup to clean my pennies.

[Veronica_K]

Bradk - how so?

are all of the WDW penny machines automatic? I've noticed over the years that they tend to make a better image than the hand crank ones.

[bradk]

I honestly don't know, I don't do the pennies, but this is what I've heard repeatedly.

for hand-crank machines, you want 1981 and earlier. for button operated, it shouldn't matter.

[Veronica_K]

might as well have all pre-1981 then, just to be sure. It's not like they're hard to find or anything I have some soaking in a coke bath as I type this.

[ksumyers]

Submerse pennies in a thin layer of vinegar (like on a plate) and sprinkle salt over all. Leave on for 5-10 minutes then rub w/ a washcloth. May need to do this a couple times. CAUTION: do NOT leave overnight as I discovered the salt/vinegar will erode the pennies. Yes, I have a couple with holes in them. hahaha...
Another option: use silver cleaner (can buy at wal-mart). rub on and rub off the tarnish. Works better than the salt/vinegar but uses a bit more elbow grease.

[Stripes]

Tarnex - a quick dip and done.