Cleaning & Polishing (1)
How do you make your coins shiny?
Actually they aren’t really shiny yet because it’s really hard to take pictures of shiny coins. The coins pictured have been cleaned (unless otherwise stated) with Brasso which leaves them a bit dull. Once we took the picture we polish them (the pennies I mean) with Autosol and than they are incredibly shiny – you wouldn’t believe it. Every coin turns into a little jewel – no kidding!
Autosol Metal Polish. This incomparably superior, quality metal polish is Autosol LLC.’s most popular product. It has won three international gold medals and is recommended by manufacturers, museums and restoration experts around the world. It safely and easily removes oxidation, corrosion, stains, and rust. It produces a brilliant reflective luster and leaves an invisible protective coating to ensure a long-lasting shine.
Strongly recommended by us: “We have yet to discover a product which does a better job in polishing our cherished elongated coins – period!!”
Glossary (3)
What is a zincer??
Zincers and Coppers – what’s the difference?
Notice the grey or silver colored shadows within the coin design of the “zincer” coin?
Zinc pennies are made of zinc but plated with pure copper (and that’s the reason zincers are often way shinier than copper pennies which are made of brass – not pure copper). When you elongated (press or smash) such a zinc cent the copper plating breaks and what you see revealed is the real material of the coin – zinc which is bleeding through.
Before 1982, the U.S. minted pennies that were about 95% copper and 5% zinc. Beginning in 1982, the proportion of each metal was reversed because the value of the copper in a cent was becoming more valuable than a penny. When you smash a post-1982 penny, the elongation process will reveal the zinc underneath the copper plating of the coin.
Stained elongated coins. How are these made? I have one and have always wondered.
Private rolls sometimes have stained backs to show the dates of the pennies. The roller (Mr. Chester M. Rogers in this specific case) might have used Deft brand spray stain or Jet and Mohawk brand stain. Nowadays it’s really hard to buy those stains as they aren’t produced anymore (so fare we know). On top of it it’s not a really good idea to use a stained coin with a public penny machine because nobody will clean the die afterwards.
What’s the meaning of the small letters and/or numbers on my pressed penny?
Initials on elongated coins may refer to:
- Designers
- Engravers
- Rollers
- Manufacturers
- Sponsors
- Dealers
- Numismatic Clubs
Now some maybe are rollers but not designers. Some are designers but not rollers. Some design and roll. Some may engrave but not deal with the artwork. And some do it all. Over time (to the best of our knowledge) we will try to add specific information about each initials as we gather the information along our journey through the realms of elongated coins.
So here we go with the current version of our key (incomplete of course) to that specific elongated coin riddle:
Initials | Name/Company | Image |
---|---|---|
462 | Don Berry | |
ABC | Anastasia, Bob, and Charlotte Hoff | |
AC | Adam J. Cool | |
AG | Alice Goodman | |
AH | ||
AM | ||
AR | Angelo A. Rosato | |
AV | Adele & Norman Vogel (Rollers, Engravers - TEC #1966 & 1997) | |
AZ | Anita Zell Las Vegas | |
BCS | Bruce C. Sumner | |
BE | ||
BG | Bronislaus (Brownie) A. Gill | |
BJ | Bill Jackson | ![]() |
BJ | Bruce Jones Memphis, Tennessee | ![]() |
BR | Banyas Barnesyarde - Brad Ream | |
BS | Bert Samsa | |
BX | James Brown and Myron Xenos | |
C | Often used to denote a copy of an earlier elongated coin. | |
C | Copper Charms | |
C | Carlos Curry of Louisville, Kentucky Roller | ![]() |
© | Copyrighted | |
C in box, triangle on top | Cliff Roth | |
C-7 | Cee Ceven (Betty Kirby and Rudy Skarita) | |
CASH | Carol & Steve Hursh | |
CAW | ||
CBW | C. B. Weatherly | |
CC | Copper Charms | |
CEW | Cecil E. Walls | |
CH | Bud Hicks | |
CH | Charles Ray Harden 11408 E Parr Avenue, Brazil, IN 47834 1-812-877-1157 Roller | |
CK | Carol Kilcoyne | ![]() |
CL | Charles Lorati | |
CM | C. Gus Meccarello | ![]() |
CM | Copper Memories | ![]() |
CMI | Copper Memories | |
CMJ | ||
CMH | ||
CMR | Chester M. Rogers | ![]() |
CO-7 | James Bond | |
CS | ||
CW | Carl Webster | |
CW | Claude Waite | |
CZC | Cindy Calhoun | ![]() |
DA## | Don Adams Specialty Company Over 250 designs showing DA and then the die issue number | ![]() |
DAW | Don A. Wilkinson TEC#1079 Designer & Roller | ![]() |
DC | Danny B. Crabb | |
DD | Dottie Dow | ![]() |
DD | Don Duncan | |
DE | ||
DES | Donald E. Sabo Collector, Engraver, and Roller Avondale, Arizona TEC # 341 LM | ![]() |
DESCO | David E. Stoicheff | |
DJ | D. Jakebovits | |
DJM | Dave Macdiarmid | |
DM | ||
DMH | ||
DP | Dwayne Padon | |
DR | Don Roth | |
DRP | Dwayne Padon | |
DS | Donald E. Sabo Collector, Engraver, and Roller Avondale, Arizona | |
DS | David Spellman | |
DT | Dan Thompson | ![]() |
DT | Dave True | |
DW | Don Wendt | |
DWJ | David W. Jordan | |
e | Eurolink | ![]() |
EA# (EA1, EA2, EA3 etc.) | Elmer Anderson Roller | ![]() |
ECHO | W. W. Miller | |
ED | Ed McClung | |
EG | Ewell Gunter | |
EH | Errick Hermann | |
ELM | E.L. Murdoch | |
EPE | Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. | ![]() |
ET# (ET1, ET2, ET3 etc.) | Eurotoken Installer | |
EW | Ed Weaton | |
FB | Frank E. Brazzell from Indiana. Master engraver and builder of rolling machines. Mentor of Jim Dundon. Passed away in 1996. | ![]() |
FGS | ||
FL | ![]() |
|
FS | Frank Spandone | |
FSC | ||
G | Eric H. Goodwin | |
GFB | ||
GA | ||
GAE | ||
GK | George E. Kesterson | |
GM | Gus Meccarello Engraver | |
GPB | Gary & Phyllis Bible | |
GW | George Wanzug | |
GWE | Gerald William Elliott Sr. Roller | ![]() |
HA | ![]() |
|
HCS | Harold C. Schmal | |
HDA | H. D. Alien | |
HE | House of Elongateds (Lee Martin/Warren Bunge) | |
HG | Horace Grant | |
HHT | Harry H.Taylor | |
HOE | House of Elongateds (Lee Martin/Warren Bunge) | ![]() |
HLB | ||
HM | Holden Manufacturing, Inc. Manufacturer 2938 Stonewall Place Sanford, FL 32773 Phone: 407-321-1653 Toll Free: 800-643-2566 Fax: 407-321-5311 Holden Manufacturing, Inc. on Archive.org Holden Manufacturing, Inc. on Facebook.com | ![]() |
HM | Houston Marshall Private Roller | |
HWB | Henry W. Blaha Roller | ![]() |
IG | ||
JB | Jamie Bennett | |
JB | James Hanna Brown | |
JD | Jim Dundon (Paradise Engraving) Engraver | ![]() |
JES | ||
JF | Joe Franklin | |
JGS | John G. Spadone | |
JH | Joseph Hotter | |
JJ | Jim Dundon (Paradise Engraving) Engraver | ![]() |
JJR | RALPH JONES (may appear reversed) | |
JK | James Kilcoyne Coyne Designs (TEC # 1887) Designer, Engraver, Roller (Acid Etching, Rotary Engraving, Hand Engraving) 5274 Linton Road Cadiz, Kentucky 42211 kilcoynejames@hotmail.com | ![]() |
JK | Jess Kirby | |
JLB | ||
JM | Jack Meccarello (Roller) | |
JN | John & Nancy Wooten | ![]() |
JR | Jerry Rathburn | |
JR | Jack Rosenblath | |
JR | RALPH JONES (may appear reversed) | |
JRN | Jason R. Nelson Roller | ![]() |
JS | James Singleton | |
JS | John G. Spadone | |
JW | Jack Wilcox | |
K | C. C. Kemp | |
KH | Banyas Barnesyarde - Kay Harpold | |
KMCS | Karen San Gregory | |
KWG | Kyle Greer Sponsor | ![]() |
L (circled) | R. W. Luchtman (L.P. Engravers) | |
L | Lord's Prayer Engravers (Charles Lorati) | |
LB | Lenard Babin | |
LB | Lee Bowser | |
LCS | L. C. Summer | |
LCS | Lido Coin Shop | |
LE | Lodestar Entertainment | |
LEW | Lloyd E. Wagaman | |
LEW | Lisa Whitcomb Roller | |
LEM | Lee Martin | |
LH | Lurene Haines (2001 TEC membership nickel) | |
LHT | Len H. Trump | |
LOU | Lou Brock | |
LS | LS | |
LT | Len H. Trump | |
LW | Lloyd Wagaman | ![]() |
MC | Maecri Italy (Italian company) XII refers to the engraver's sequence. The silver coin is from Spain. The installer is 'ET' (see above) | |
MFT | ||
MH | Millard Hajek | |
MLBP | Major League Baseball Players | |
MK | Business Cents LLC & Studio Twelve28 Josh and Michelle Kilcoyne PO Box 134 Noblesville, IN 46061 1-317-363-1587 Website: Business Cents LLC & Studio Twelve28 Email: Michelle Kilcoyne | ![]() |
MLH | Mark Hill | |
MM | M & M Elongates Mary Eggleston and A. Elizabeth "Manchie" Batterton Hickman Coin Shop 5815 Longview Road Kansas City, Missouri 64134 | ![]() |
MM | Mary Eggleston M & M Elongates (Mary Eggleston and A. Elizabeth "Manchie" Batterton) Hickman Coin Shop 5815 Longview Road Kansas City, Missouri 64134 | ![]() |
MM | Michael Mochizuki | |
MOM | Marlyse Hansemann | |
MP | Michael Pender Sponsor or Dealer - Non Roller Producer | |
MT | Michael Toennessen Designer | |
MT | Marie F. Trinny Sponsor or Dealer - Non Roller Producer | |
MTC | ||
MW | Mark Wright | |
N&RM | Norman & Ruth MacQuithy (Roller) | |
NINA | Nina MacDonald | |
NRM | Norm & Ruth MacQuithy (Roller) | |
NS | Nick Salimbene | |
OLY | Bob Olson, Illinois | |
OP | Oded Paz Designer & Roller | ![]() |
PB | Paul Brenner | |
PC | Paul Case | |
PC | Penny Collector | |
PE | Paradise Engraving (Jim Dundon) | |
PJ | P. Janic | |
PLB | Pearl L. Buoker | |
PPC | ||
PM | PennyMachines.com The Penny Men, A Division of CTM Group, Inc. 13 Red Roof Lane, Unit 1A Salem, NH 03079 1-866-766-7166 | ![]() |
PP | ||
PS | ||
PW | ||
PWC | Paul Conner Paul Conner Studios, LLC | ![]() |
R | Robert Stafford | |
RB | Rodney W. Baker | |
RCK | ||
REB | Robert E. Buoker | |
RG-# | Robert E. Gilger Roller TEC # 3810 | |
RH | Renée Asha Petronilla Hansemann Designer TEC # 3435 | |
RHB | ||
RHJ | Robert H. Jacobs | |
RJ | Ralph Jones Roller | ![]() |
RJJ | Ralph Jones Roller | |
RK | Ron Kanke Roller | |
ЯM | Rob Morris | |
RL | Ray Loutzenhiser | |
RR | Rocky Rockholt (The Penny-Press Machine Co., LLC) Manufacturer & Installer | ![]() |
RR | Ronald Readon | |
RS | Robert & Shirley Stafford | ![]() |
RS | Russ Sears | ![]() |
RTL | Ray T. Leveille | |
RW | Ray Wagner, Jr. | |
RWC | ||
RWD | Ray W. Dillard | |
RWJ | Ralph W. Jobe | |
RWL | Robert W. Luchtman | |
SAK | Sally & Al Kirka | ![]() |
SB | Steve Beecher | |
SDPM | San Diego Penny Machine | ![]() |
SEC | Superior Elongated Coins Dennis Paul Berry | ![]() |
SG | Shel Green | |
SoC | Stamps on Coins (Jess Kirby) | ![]() |
SP | Smashing Pennies (Katrina and Zac Gowen) | ![]() |
SPI | ||
SPM | Smashed Penny Museum | |
SPM | ||
SSC | Sea Shell City, Inc. 708 Coastal Highway Fenwick Island, DE 19944 | ![]() |
SSF | Suzie Sims-Fletcher | |
TAC | ![]() |
|
TAK | ||
TDT | Tyler Tyson | |
TG | Tom Gerhardt | |
TK | Boeing Employees Coin Club (BECC) The BECC 53rd annual coin show in Kent, Washington was held January 21-22, 2017. Wooden nickels and elongated cents with the 747-8 Intercontinental design were available at the coin show until supplies were exhausted. (One free wooden nickel and one free elongated cent per show attendee. Additional cents could be purchased.) | |
TMC | ||
TPP | Carl Webster The Penny Pincher Robinson, Illinois | |
TR | Tom Russo | |
TW | Tom Wiebe | |
T#Y ( "T1Y," T2Y," "T3Y"…) | Bert Creighton (Roller) TEC #2095 | |
VB | Vicky Bowser | |
VCS | ||
VF | Vance Fowler | |
WCM | William C. Massey Luck "E" Penny P.O.Box 1511 Beltsville, MD 20704-1511 | ![]() |
WDA | Wayne D. Ashford | |
WDW | ||
WG | William Gardner | |
WJH | William T. Helmerick | |
WLP | ||
WLS | ||
WM | William C. Massey Luck "E" Penny P.O.Box 1511 Beltsville, MD 20704-1511 | |
WR | William Rogers | |
WSA | Whitney, Spero & Alien | |
∞ | CO88 |
eBay (1)
Would you be willing to take less? I bought one just like this for $1.47 a few days ago but I need one more.
Dear i***t( 222
),
You asked:
Quote
Friday, February 28, 2014 10:00 AM
Dear domaindomino,
Would you be willing to take less? I bought one just like this for $1.47 a
few days ago but I need one more.
–i***t( 222
)
Unquote
As an exception we are (I will use your transaction with us as a learning experience). We will adjust the price for you on this one coin but act quickly because it ends in less than a day.
I don’t see how sellers pricing their coins at $1.47 even can recover their own costs – I believe they are actually loosing money with such a business model.
See below why I believe so (I used an item price of $2.25 for my example).
$2.25 Starting Bid
$1.75 Shipping
—–
$4.00 Total Cost of coin on eBay
$0.23 Final Value fee (eBay)
$0.18 Final Value Fee on Shipping (eBay)
$0.42 Fee amount (PayPal)
$0.91 Postage Stamps (USPS for 2oz rigid envelope)
—–
$1.74 Fees for $2.25 coin
Not factured into costs yet:
– original cost of item (elongated coin)
– envelope
– tape
– Brasso (Metal Polish liquid used to clean coins)
– Autosol (metal polish paste used to polish coins)
– Q-Tips Cotton Swabs, paper towels, soft cloth, cloves etc. to clean/polish the coins
– time for cleaning, research, listing and shipping
– eBay listings fee of $0.35 if we list more than 50 coins a month and eBay doesn’t run a special like they did in February 2014)
Enjoy your coin and this amazing hobby!! 🙂
Marlyse