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Pressed Penny Machines: A Brief History

Almost everyone has seen one of those machines, maybe at the zoo or on a family trip to the ballpark, which instructs patrons to insert a penny and two quarters to get a unique souvenir. What exactly are these strange machines? How do they work, and why do people feel so passionate about collecting the beautiful engraved coins they create? Usually referred to as pressed penny machines , they work by using the pressure from steel rollers to imprint pennies with an engraving. The process also elongates the penny, giving it a distinctive oval shape. In fact, these pressed pennies are often referred to as elongated coins. Each machine produces a different engraving, usually specific to its location.

The first penny press machine debuted at the 1892-1893 World’s Columbian Expo in Chicago to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. The engraved coins it produced were an instant hit and new machines soon began to appear at various fairs and expos across the country over the next forty years. Elongated coines gained popularity in the 1930’s, and pressed penny machines began popping up at more permanent tourist locations throughout the United States. Today, these machines can be found across the globe.

Collecting the pennies produced by these machines is now a popular hobby. Many enthusiasts frequently focus on collecting only specific types of engravings and take cleaning, storage, and upkeep of these pennies very seriously. With so many different engravings available and so many passionate people looking to find out as much as possible about these coins, it’s hard to know where to go for information. The Penny Machine Company is a great place to start. It is full of information that anyone with even a passing interest in pressed penny machines needs to know.