Smashed Pennies - Click Here to go to The Penny Machine Company for Souvenir Penny Machines

Smashed Pennies; Then and Now

Smashed pennies have been used as souvenirs for years. Since the late 1800's, people have been elongating pennies, pressing images and dates into them as they are cranked through a machine, usually displaying the logo of the place they are purchasing the penny at. People will 'pay a pretty penny' to buy these pressed pennies, and the prices usually range between 50 cents and a dollar to make one brand new, or $1-5 to buy one second hand, online or in some other store that sells collectibles. Some machines don't press pennies, but blank discs or other monetary values.

Smashed pennies are made by two rollers with a logo or date or some other design on them. A penny and other coins used to pay for it are put into the machine, and the penny drops down into a spot to be pressed through the rollers. The pressure between the two rollers is so immense that as the handle is cranked and the penny squeezes through, it elongates the coin into an oval shape, which imprints the design onto either side of the piece. Fairs, amusement parks, land marks, gift shops, zoos, board walks, and pretty much any attractions are popular for pressed pennies.

There are many websites on the internet that will give you information on smashed pennies, but the number one site is The Penny Machine Company by far. This website sells machines that are made specifically to smash pennies, so they really know what they are doing and what they are talking about in their testimonials and articles. They currently carry five different models of machines, and whichever you prefer, one will match the decor of your store and fit nicely into the area around it. Penny smashing machines are always proftable, and pennybiz.com can help you find the model that fits best with what design you would like to sell.