If you’re looking for a fun and fairly inexpensive souvenir to get the whole family involved in and also to commemorate your Disneyland Resort visit(s) – look no further than the specially themed pressed coins!
As my kids get older I am always on the lookout for new and/ or fun activities that they can get involved in and excited about while we are visiting the Disneyland Resort. Most recently, they have taken a special interest in the pressed coin machines. I’ve fielded many questions ranging from “how do they do that?” to “can we collect them all?” Not only is it exciting for them to look for the machines everywhere we go, but it is also quite the event for them to select their design, and of course watching the coin be pressed is pretty fun as well!
What are pressed coins?
Pressed coins, also known as elongated coins, are created by pressing a coin between two rollers. As a coin goes through the rollers it is flattened and shaped into an oval by a smooth roller and engraved with a picture or message by an engraving roller.
The pressed coin machines at the Disneyland Resort come in several denominations including penny, nickel, dime and quarter. At present there are approximately 140 designs, each featuring a character, icon, or attraction. To date there have been over 500 different designs featured at the Disneyland Resort.
Pressed Coin Prices:
- Penny- $.51 (two quarters and one penny)
- Nickel- $.80 (three quarters and one nickel)
- Dime- $.85 (three quarters and one dime)
- Quarter- $1.00 (four quarters, one of which will be pressed)
The nice thing about these prices is that kids can save up their change ahead of time and bring it with them to get pressed coins that commemorate some of their favorite attractions and experiences at the resort. They make really fun (and inexpensive) souvenirs.
How are the coin press designs made?
The pressed coin designs, also known as “dies,” are made and maintained at the Disneyland Resort’s Electromechanical Shop. Artisans first cast a two dimensional image on a metal die and then an artist further carves the design by hand to give it three dimensional depth and additional character.
Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration Pressed Coins
As part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration Disney has released 60 new designs that are engraved with the 60th “D” logo. Also, the back of each 60th coin is engraved with the following “Est. July 17 1955 – Disneyland Resort 60-D.” The special edition pressed coins can be found by simply locating the diamond icon next to the coin image in the Pressed Coin Location Guide. Currently, there are 14 Diamond Celebration pressed coin machines located throughout the resort, and several of the designs are only available for limited time.
Sample Diamond Celebration Coin Designs (image courtesy of Disney)
How to find the pressed coin machines
There are over 40 pressed coin machines located throughout both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park as well as in Downtown Disney and the Resort Hotels. Disney has created a commemorative guide that lists the locations and corresponding designs and doubles as a checklist to keep track of the coins you’ve collected. The guide is free and can be picked up at City Hall or at any pressed coin location.
If you are serious pressed coin hunter, pennycollector.com has a lists of pressed coin sites around the world and more details on Disneyland Resort locations if you can’t wait to get the brochure at the parks.
Pressed Coin Collecting Tips:
For best results, and to see the design most clearly, clean or purchase clean, shiny coins to bring to the parks. I bring mine in a small plastic bag, but we have seen others store their coins in a small plastic tube (e.g. an M&Ms mini candy tube).- Use the collectors guide to keep track of the coins you’ve already purchased.
- Purchase a pressed coin collectors book. The plastic book costs $8.95 each and have small plastic pockets that organize and display the coins very nicely.
- Turn your pressed coins into wearable art by creating a necklace or bracelet. Click here for a complete tutorial from our friend Mindy at This Fairy Tale Life.
Image courtesy of ThisFairyTaleLife.com
While I’m not sure that we will make it to every pressed coin machine and collect each design it sure is fun trying and I’m loving seeing my kids so excited and eager to expand their collections.
Do you collect the Disneyland Resort pressed coins? If so, we’d love to hear your trips and tips for collecting.
Thanks for the tips! My husband’s been collecting for years and we started our toddler on collecting them about a year ago. The website pennycollector (.com) is a great tool to find where else you can collect pressed pennies!
We are going to add that site to our post, Natalie! Thank you so much!
I have collected pennies from DisneyWorld before, but didn’t know they did the books to store them in. As I have now lost most of mine, I think when we going October we will be getting one. Thanks for the tip.
Without those books they are so easy to lose! Have a great trip!
For the Disneyland penny collector, there is an APP for your phone. Search for Disneyland Pressed Coins in the playstore and you’ll fin the app. It has the current list of pennies and the locations to find them and let’s you keep track of the ones you have, when you collected them and the ones you still want. The retied penny list is a bit short but we’ll all make the suggestion that they expand that. (I have many coins that are not on the list any longer, already.)