Penny for your thoughts

[rollie29]

As much as I dislike digging pennies at the beach, I've come to appreciate that finding them can help offset the cost of the batteries. However, a good number that I dig up are in pretty encrusted. I cashed about 1500 in today at the bank and a number were rejected by the machine. I'm wondering if anybody has any good ways to get the crustacion off? I know a rock tumbler would probably work, but they don't hold that many coins and also run up the electricity bill. Just wondering if there is some kind of solution they can be soaked in?

 

[Onus]

I've had some luck soaking them in vinegar with a little salt and then rub with a brillo pad. The only problem is, the zinc ones tend to fall apart if soaked too long. Poor excuse for a coin! Onus

 

[edjcox]

Leave them on the beach...

 

[MagicMatt]

what ever you decide to do with them, don't stop diggin them, I know that many people who find rings when it falls into the penny range , good luck with em.

 

[ronaldj2]

I keep all the pennies, soak em and tumble. Try coinstar machines, they tend to rejecet less pennies. Some times you can send the rejects through the machine more than once and it may accept them. Any way we can offset the cost of batteries is a good thing. I buy batteries from Ocean State Job Lot at 2.56 for 8 alkalines they are Konnoc brand and they last as long or even longer than the more expensive brands.

 

[thedayawaits]

I once was given a bucket of pennies taken from a fountain in a mall demolition with the same crustation problem. They were crusted so bad I called the bank and told them I had some "uncirculable" coins that needed returned to the Treasury. They arranged to send them back to the US Treasury for retirement and calculated and paid the value ($27 and odd). Best bet - call the bank and tell the manager you've got coins that need taken out of circulation. They'll take it from there.

 

[ronaldj2]

Thanks for sharing that, sounds like a good idea. Those pennies are otherwise useless. Ron