Hello everyone! I was digging through some old things the other day and found this Elongated coin that I got in Maine one year. After a quick search, I discovered this Awesome website on elongated coins! You can choose your State for Penny machines in your area. Some are active and some retired. I wonder if they carry any value or just a memento for memories? Here is my coin and exact page of the same one. Look yours up as well! POST ALSO!!!! Go here>>>>> History - PENNY COLLECTOR Here is a history lesson: Although an example of an elongated coin is rumored to have been produced some years earlier, it is generally accepted that these tokens were first made during the 1892-1893 World's Columbian Exposition that was held in Chicago, Illinois to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America. There were four different designs utilized during that event. An elongated coin is made by a coin, token, medal or metal blank being forced between two steel rollers. An engraving is on one or both of the rollers and as the coin passes through the rollers it is squeezed or elongated under tremendous pressure from the original round shape to one of an oval and the engraved design impressed into the coin at the same time. The rolling of elongateds seemed to be rather popular for the first 23 years of their existence and a large amount were rolled between 1893 and 1916. Then for some unknown reason there was a slack period between 1916 and 1932. After 1932 momentum seemed to regenerate and the amount of coins rolled has steadily increased until today they are being produced at such a rapid rate that it is nearly impossible for a collector to keep up with them all. Some of the earlier collectors are still trying to get everything that is produced, but the majority of todays collectors specialize in one or more fields and collect only those coins which refer to a specialized subject. For example some collect all pieces that refer to the space program, while others prefer political, Christmas, or Expositions. Some collect by roller and try to obtain everything produced by one specific roller. There are four published books which catalog elongated coins. The latest and the most comprehensive was authored by Angelo A. Rosato, "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE MODERN ELONGATEDS" 1990 (1700 pages- hard bound). Here is my coin and the link to the webpage if you like. PennyCollector.com - The official website for elongated pennies, penny books and penny machines
@dwhiz Yeah, we went there when my Son was about 6(22 years ago). I love the Trolly's. I like the fact that many still have the advertisements inside them. The smoking Ads make me laugh and the Alcohol one's also. The ride up the trail was Awesome even if it was only a few miles long!
My wife and I are members of TEC, a club for elongated coin collectors. I have some of the classic, pre 1916 but she collects everything. https://tecnews.org/
I like them when all or part of the original image is visible. Taken under different lighting for effect
Those Penney machines are great, I will have to try and hunt mine down usually have those at major attractions, makes a nice souvenir
