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Elongated Coin FAQs

  Club Information: EC Cleaning/Polishing and Storage: ECs, Machines and Engravers/Rollers: Hole Puncher:

CLUB INFORMATION

  • Are there any clubs for elongated coin collectors?    up

    Please click here to view a list of EC clubs.
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    EC CLEANING/POLISHING and STORAGE

  • How do I clean/polish my pennies before and after I smash them?    up

    Just read what other elongated coin collectors have to say:

  • From Rus: I use vinegar to clean a penny with too much tarnish - it removes tarnish pretty well. A quick soak and then rinse works. MAKE SURE TO DRY WELL - paper towels and several hours sitting works.

    But for a great shine AND COATING I use what coin dealers call "dip". It can be found at nearly ANY good coin shop in the country. Its trade name is "e*Z*est COIN CLEANER, but I have only ever heard it referred to as "dip." Just a couple of seconds is all that's necessary to clean a coin. Again, rinse and dry as above. It smells kind of like Pepto-Bismol, is poisonous, corrosive, pretty much anything that is harmful, but it DOES leave a good coating on metal. It works on copper, gold, silver and nickel, and especially on copper it will allow the slightest reddish patina. Every single coin dealer I've ever seen uses it - even on coins they send in to get graded. And you know how picky they are on grading coins! Anyway - don't soak coins in it - they will DISSOLVE - but a quick "dip" (hence the nickname!) will help shine and protect them.

    If you visit a coin dealer you can verify my information on "dip." You'll find that it's acceptable in the coin industry - TO A POINT. A quick "dip" removes tarnish but will leave the coin in gradeable condition. However, like I said, if you've worked with them for a while you can tell the difference - but that is because they have a THIN coating. If you clean your coins and then put them in 2x2's they're fine. (DON'T put them directly into plastic pages - the plasticizers will ruin a coin - they integrate into the coin and aren't able to be removed. I've been using dip for years on regular coins - and I've seen several that are even graded that have been dipped. It works well and helps preserve them. And we all know that coin graders are the pickiest people on Earth. Luckily, we can all just enjoy our whomped coins for the entertainment value!
  • From Phil Proctor: I have had very good results from giving slightly tarnished uncirculated pennies a short soaking in cider vinegar ( white vinegar for silver-color metal coins ) then a rinse in water and dry completely with a soft cotton cloth. The results: pennies shine like gold doubloons! I clean 'em before and after smashing.
  • From Lou: I use Phil's method also, with one added step. After I take them out of the salt/vinigar solution I rub them with baking soda. The soda stops the acid reaction and is a very mild abrasive, thereby removing the last of the dirt and tarnish and polishing the penny.
  • From Bob Fritsch: I have found that Aim toothpaste does a great job of shining the coins. Plus they won't get cavities. ; >

    Clear nail polish is a time-honored way of preserving coins. Nail polish remover will take it right off. European collectors used to do this in the early part of the last century and I have pre-WWI coins (not elongates) that are as nice as the day they were minted. Clear lacquer also works well. If you use the spray type, only do one application (experience will tell you how much). If you do two coats, the surface tends to mottle.
  • From Mike Tucker: On shiny EC's that I want to polish and keep shiny, I use Brasso.

    Their ad says: "Removes tarnish from brass, copper, chrome, stainless steel and pewter quickly and gently. Contains no harsh acids. Leaves a smooth, polished surface and brilliant shine." And it seems to do what they say.

    On older coins with a nice patina, I like them looking old and do nothing more than putting them in a new 2X2.
  • From Brad and Kay: After the coin is smashed there is little to do with it other than possibly wash it off with some acetone or some olive oil, the plainest olive oil works best and then dry with a soft cloth. Do NOT dip the ec in coin dip this can cause an unnatural color and possibly more trouble down the road.

    We have used a rock tumbler with dish soap and water and then some fine sand to get coins ready to roll that are tarnished, we usually put a spray stain on the head side so you can see the head and date of coin after it is rolled.

    After rolling a thin coat of clear,test on a couple of coins first to make sure your clear is really clear and does not have a white cast to it and also that it dries ok. This will keep coin shiny and from darkening. If you roll zinc cents I would especially recommend this to keep the coinfrom deteriatiing where silver color and copper color meet. We have had coins we rolled back in "82 that look brand new cause we painted them.

    We do not recommend painting older ec's or regular coins in your coin collection, and it does not appear that you need to coat the coins that are not copper.
  • From Others: Dan Thompson's Coin Cleaning Tips
    TEC: Elongated Coins - Cleaning
    PennyCollector.com: Cleaning Tips

  • What do I use to store my elongated coins?    up

  • First way: You can buy an elongated coin album, like this album to store your ECs:


    You can buy this kind of albums at:
    1. Copper Memories
    2. Pennycollector.com
    3. Ray Dillard's
    (If you are a manufacturer of ec albums, please contact me. So I can add your business to the list.)

  • Second way: You can store your coins like this:


    You need to buy:
    • A three-ring binder

    • Plastic slice holders: You can buy these at any photography stores.

    • 2x2 elongated coin holders:

    • Please also read these notes:

      Janna Silverstein: A great and easy way to store your ECs is in looseleaf binders.

      1. First, take your ECs and store them in 2" x 2" folders with mylar windows in them. Most coin shops sell these little folders, but only with circular windows. TEC sells these with oval windows, perfect for elongated coins. These will protect your coins from damage of most kinds.

      2. At a coin shop or through TEC, pick up some plastic looseleaf pages with 2"x2" pockets in them. The folders will fit into these pockets perfectly. You'll be able to display twelve ECs per page, and see both sides of the coin when you're done.

      3. Find a good sturdy looseleaf book to store your pages in. If you collect many different categories of smashed coins, you may want to sort your coins by subject matter or coin size. Each collector has his or her own preference. It's part of the fun of collecting. (2/12/2002)

      Roger M. Rowell: Please allow me to add to the good advise that Janna wrote.

      In point 1, the fiber used to make the holders with the mylar windows is a very low grade pulp fiber and please make sure that no fibers from that paper holder come in contact with your (especially) copper coins. These fibers in contact with the coin will cause discoloration (much like acid paper degradation) so make sure you remove any fibers from the mylar surfaces before you place your coin in the holder. These holders are usually closed with staples and be sure you know where the staple is going to go into the holder.

      Yes, I have seen partial holes in coins where the staple tried to go through. Make sure, also, that the coin has nothing on its surface that will cause degradation over time. A dip in acetone and air drying will remove oil a dhand grease. In point 2, make sure that the 2x2 pocket pages contain no PVC. This type of plastic breakes down giving hydrochloric acid which will damage coins in the holders.

      In point 3, make sure the binder you put the pages in contains no PVC as well for the same reason. There are also 2x2 holders that are made completely of Mylar with no paper...this is what I use. They are called Safeflip. I have had coins in Safeflips for over 30 years with no degradation at all and the coins have no coating of any kind. (2/12/2002)

  • Third way: Katherine Genung's way to store her coins. Please read her instruction in the text file below: third_way_to_store_coins.txt
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    ECs, MACHINES, and ENGRAVERS/ROLLERS

  • If I want to buy an ec machine, where can I get the information?    up

    First you need to know what type of an ec machine you want (electric/hand-cranked). You want to buy or rent the machine. And how many designs (1-4) you like your machine to have. Of course and most importantly, what is/are the design(s) on the die (should be related to the theme of your place).

    These are the sites you should visit before making up your mind (listed in alphabet order):

    (If you are a manufacturer of ec machines, please contact me. So I can add your business to the list.)


  • If I want to order a customized elongated coin for my birthday, wedding, ..., who should I contact?    up

    These are the engravers and/or rollers that I know (listed in alphabet order by first name): (If you do customized die, please contact me. So I can add your name/business to the list.)
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    HOLE PUNCHER

  • Where do I buy a hole puncher to make a hole on my EC?    up

    You can buy it here.


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