# What does a souvenir penny machine cost? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910 "2020-04-30T16:33:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/21 "2020-05-01T16:26:12Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [How about this instead](https://www.pennypressmachines.com/) > > Unlike other penny machine manufacturers, Penny Press Machines offers its presses for sale, **or for placement in qualified locations at no cost to the location**. Purchasing one of our elongated penny machines allows you to realize unlimited earning potential without splitting the income. Requesting placement of a coin press on a percentage basis allows you to start making money **without the up front cost of purchasing**. > … > 10% discounts for not for profit organizations > > Location: Colorado. I actually contacted them about that possibility, but they are more interested in permanent placements in high volume areas over a long period of time, not 3 to 5 day placements at conventions. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/22 "2020-05-01T19:31:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I actually contacted them about that possibility, but they are more interested in permanent placements in high volume areas over a long period of time, not 3 to 5 day placements at conventions. I think it’s a great convention idea, though it is a tiny bit expensive. Did you intend to customize the pennies for the show? How much would that be. My daughter collects smushed pennies, so I’ve run a lot of pennies (and quarters) through those machines. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/23 "2020-05-01T19:47:48Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I think it’s a great convention idea, though it is a tiny bit expensive. Did you intend to customize the pennies for the show? How much would that be. New machines come with custom dies, between one and five depending on the machine, and they can be set to dispense at 25 cents, 50 cents or a dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/24 "2020-05-01T20:33:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I guess I’ll check out prices for pre-smashed pennies and medallions. Can I just suggest that won’t be a big seller. Some people will happily pay a dollar for the fun of turning a handle and crushing a penny personally. Few of them would pay a quarter for a pre-made bit of metal. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/25 "2020-05-01T21:53:39Z")
I’m guessing that they might not be a good candidate for lots of loading, unloading and relocating. Lots of moving parts that can become non-moving parts. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/26 "2020-05-02T00:32:27Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Presumably you can press other coins? Since US dimes are smaller both almost the same size, most people I know had tried pressing a dime. They tended to work well enough, with maybe the bottom cut off a bit. But the designs usually have a bit of a margin on them, so they looked fine. And I agree that people are more likely to pay for actually pressing the coins than just for the trinket. I know I don’t have any idea where any of my pressed coins have gone–I didn’t get them for the memento, just the fun of pressing them. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/27 "2020-05-02T23:51:51Z")
Automation steals jobs! Rather than acquire a machine to smash pennies for a few days, hire a muscular athlete or actor (likely unemployed now and hungry for work) to pound a die onto pennies with a hand sledge hammer. Pay him or her fifty bucks a day (with snackbar privileges) for their performance, or maybe a buck per smashed coin. A custom die might be the major investment. Don’t forget a sledge and anvil. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/28 "2020-05-06T00:15:49Z")
If you (or more likely, the venue) can handle the noise, (mainly a heavy impact BAM!) how about a drop hammer? These things are fairly common at Renaissance Faires. [Video of one in operation, sadly the audio is horrid.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3728TUQj4A) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/29 "2020-05-06T01:22:40Z")
That’s not a bad idea, but instead of lugging a big machine around, you can get an anvil, two coin dies, and a hammer. [Here’s a UK supplier](https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/614780473/custom-coin-minting-tool-coinage-coin?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=coin+die&ref=sr_gallery-1-40&frs=1)that can supply the equipment and custom dies at a reasonable price. You might find one closer. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910/30 "2020-05-06T02:21:48Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > That’s not a bad idea, but instead of lugging a big machine around, you can get an anvil, two coin dies, and a hammer. > > [Here’s a UK supplier](https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/614780473/custom-coin-minting-tool-coinage-coin?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=coin+die&ref=sr_gallery-1-40&frs=1)that can supply the equipment and custom dies at a reasonable price. You might find one closer. I think the free-fall hammer would be a bigger draw, but unfortunately both methods would be too loud inside the hotel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-souvenir-penny-machine-cost/852910.md?page=1)