Today on Celebrate the Bible:
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Pressed coins are very popular collectibles.
It is said that the first pressed penny machines were introduced at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. With these early machines, I believe you would hand the person attending to the machine your own coin. You can still find pennies, and other coins, that were pressed in 1893 at this event.
In the 1970s, self-serve machines started appearing at popular vacation spots. They were also seen at entertainment venues, such as amusement parks and zoos. There were a multitude of designs and topics from this era.
It’s interesting to note that, years ago, you would be able to choose one design out of several. It was common to find one Lord’s Prayer choice as part of the selections. For instance, let’s say at the zoo, you would have a choice of a lion, elephant, monkey, or zebra. Then the fifth choice would be for the Lord’s Prayer. Recently, while visiting a zoo, I found one of the newer penny rolling machines. Once again, you had a choice of making one of five different pennies. But, this time, there was no selection for the Lord’s Prayer.
At the same time, back then, there were also many machines that made only the Lords Prayer.
The examples that I am showing today are from my own American Bible History collection. The complete set is interesting. It contains the Lord’s Prayer on a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter, and even a half-dollar. It must have taken quite a bit of pressure to press that half-dollar!
I believe that these complete sets are quite scarce. I’ve heard that there are only 200 known sets put together. I’m including close-up photos to show one or two of the coins in detail.
There are also many other biblically-based coins. Examples include the Ten Commandments and Serenity Prayer.
If you are listening to this as a podcast, please visit celebratethebible250.com to view the photos included with this episode. Type lords prayer into the search box, and the matching article should come up.
On a sheet that was included with the coins, I’ve learned a few things that I would like to share with you. For instance, it explains how to make a coin: “An elongated or stretched coin is made by placing it between two steel rollers. Extreme pressure is exerted. One die has an image cut into it, and the other die is solid steel. The coin, with its relatively soft metal, is forced into the depressions of the die bearing the design. When the contact has been completed, an elongated coin with the image emerges from the exit of the geared machine. The process is almost instantaneous, and requires little technical know how to run the coin through.”
It goes on to say that, of all the dies made, more variations exist of the Lord’s Prayer than any other. This is good news for me, since it places the topic right in line with my American Bible History collection.
It also says that pennies of the Lords Prayer are the basic offerings, and are the most common. Although a number of nickels and dimes do exist. Very few quarters are available to collectors, and half-dollars are practically unknown.
There is still quite a bit of activity with collecting these coins. This includes all of the various designs, not just the Lord’s Prayer. I’m going to include a link for my readers and listeners, in case you would be interested in pursuing further. It links to The Elongated Collectors organizational web site:
If you’re listening instead of reading, the web site address is tecnews.org, that’s t-e-c- n-e-w-s . org. They are also on facebook, and it appears they have several thousand followers. They seem to be a fun group of people!
If you’re from the group and you are listening or reading, I’d like to make a suggestion. It would be great to hold an upcoming meeting here in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In closing, I would like to read from one of the coins in my collection. I’ll use the half-dollar. I’ve met people who have never heard the Lord’s Prayer, so I’d like to include it here now.
As follows:
Our father which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
So, until we meet again, and for Celebrate the Bible 250 this is Francis Douglas. If you’re interested in learning more about the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America, please like, share, and subscribe now:
America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration 