The first category I ever searched & bought on eBay was...the "smashed penny." Back in 2001!  Thankfully one seller on eBay listed a penny as XXX Smashed / Elongated Penny & I quickly learned & realized they had an official name.  Otherwise, my collection would have remained limited to those souvenir locations that I visited personally which had a "Penny Smashing Machine."  I get very excited whenever I see a machine!  If you are a collector...I hope you do too...you might as well collect things that make you happy.  Today, my elongated penny & coin / chip collection is quite vast. 

My first smashed penny came from a 6 week history trip around the United States when I was in high school...a long time ago ;)  My favorites are those from old World Fairs I have purchased on eBay!  I learn a little about history too.  They originated in the late 1800's & have remained a great inexpensive souvenir to this day.

The most interesting elongated penny I ever got was in San Francisco about 15 years ago.  A man was pressing the pennies in a really old "turn of the 20 th century" hand held antique souvenir machine he purchased from someone.  The shape of the finished coin was a little more elongated & pointed edges.  The ones I get from the machines today are very uniform in shape as they primarily come from machines from the same vendor or two.

Most machines have a hand crank where you first turn the arrow until you get to the design you want...then you press in your 1c + two .25c quarters... then you turn & turn until it feels tight & that time around the penny has dropped into the right place & is now being pressed with a whole lot of force to smash it & emboss the design you pick on the front side.   On a rare occasion you will find a machine that will print something on the back side too.  You will on occasion  find a machine that when you put your money in... all you do is watch & it comes out when it is done.  I was just at an amusement park that had the automatic machines & a lot of them.  They are much easier to make but less fun than turning that crank / handle.  I did learn that you can't make them too fast or you will 'confuse' the machine.  I did get a really cool error from it though...2 pennies smashed & became 1!  I have never seen a quarter machine with a hand crank.  Although the machines are 'few & far between' they are always automated.

They even make little tri-fold souvenir books which will hold rows of your pennies.  Usually about 45 or so slots.  I used to make coin holders & I know vinyl can react with the metal of coins...so I have never seen these books after many years of storage.  I am assuming they are made of a material other than pvc vinyl?

'Smashed Pennies' are a fun collection / hobby which takes up very little space.  ENJOY collecting them!  I hope your life takes you to many places where these machines are located.  In my opinion, it means you are having fun.  Don't forget to have some fun!  Life is too short to not take time to "smell the roses & smash your pennies."

My favorite search tip... notice how the word penn-ies & penn-y in my title both start with a penn... you can use the asterick / star / * ...elongated penn* as a "*wild card" to pick up both words, ways.   I found some great items this way & you can too when searching your favorite category as people list singles & groups / lots.

Peace, PaCRat! =^.'.^=
PS...If you find this guide / article / information fun, interesting or even helpful...would you vote as this is only my 2nd guide  & it will encourage me to take the time to write new guides & reviews.
Thank You for taking the time to look at / skim / read this. (07/13/06)