If you are looking for a new Disney souvenir or collection to start, pressed pennies may make the most ‘cents’ for you to get next!
A pressed penny is a penny that is flattened into an elongated coin and embossed with a new design, logo, or mark specific to the location of the pressed penny machine. These coins make for a unique (and cheap) souvenir to commemorate a trip or visit to a special place. They have grown in popularity through the years and pressed penny machines can be seen throughout Disney parks!
Pressed pennies can be dated all the way back to 1893. The first pressed pennies were rolled through a hand-cranked machine at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Disney’s first pressed penny machine made its way to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA in 1987. There were two machines with different presses, DL0001: Disneyland logo and Mickey head and DL0002: Bear country.
Pressed Pennies at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World finally got their pressed penny machines in 1994 and since then, there are approximately 200 pressed penny machines throughout the parks (including the water parks), some resorts, and at Disney Springs! Guests can collect over 700 different pressed pennies; this also includes quarter and dime press options! Each year new designs are added and the year is changed, so this is souvenir that will be different EVERY TIME, EVERY YEAR you visit!
The machines have certainly evolved over time. Guests used to have to carry coins and have exact change to get their pressed pennies (and they still can, if they prefer this option), but now–No coins, No problem–some pressed penny machines allow guests to use their credit cards to purchase their pressed pennies. There are pros and cons to this new machine design, it’s great that you don’t have to carry coins, but now you don’t get to pick the penny that you want to be pressed (just the design) and the cost is a little more when you have to swipe your card BUT there are collection bundle options available–1 for $1 or 8 for $5.
No matter how you get your pressed pennies, the options are endless and certainly make for a great souvenir that costs significantly less than what you would find on the shelves in any store.
Find the Walt Disney World Pressed Penny Machines here!!
Disney has made it easy for guests to find the pressed penny machines by providing a digital map of all of the locations throughout the property!
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/coin-presses/
If you prefer to ditch the digital option and want to stick with paper, I found these awesome, FREE Pressed Coin Pocket Guides and Checklists from The Mouse for Less. You can get it here!! 
https://www.themouseforless.com/disney-downloads/pocket-guides/pressed-coins-checklists/
Now what do I do with all these pressed pennies?
Now that you have started collecting these pennies there are so many fun things to do with your collection! Keepsake books, frame in a Disney design, or wear them! These keychains are also available but it looks you would have to take a trip to Tokyo Disneyland to get one of those!
Next time you visit Disney, skip the expensive souvenirs and start with this new souvenir collection. It’s a special unique treasure that kids and adults will love and it will be much easier on your pockets!
