I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m a member of quite a few different pressed penny Facebook groups. I utilize them for various different reasons, like new machine releases, acquiring privately designed coins, collecting tips, and one of my favorites are rumors or interesting finds. In a recent post from one of our collecting friends Jim McNally who also runs the zzzcoins.com website. Now what was interesting about this post is it was about a new style of pressed penny machine he encountered at the Detroit Zoo.

Here’s a loot at the machine and at first glance seems like many other machines I’m sure you have come across on your travels. It’s created by The Penny Press Machine Company, offering four designs in a manual press machine.

As with many of machines lately it accepts both cash and credit or digital payments like Apple Pay or Google Wallet.

However when you take a closer look at the instructions on how the machine works we notice an interesting new feature. If you use your either the digital payment or pay by cash with a paper bill the machine will supply the pennies to press. OR, it does allow you to use the machine by inserting four quarters and your own penny of choice.

This seems so trivial I’m sure to many casual visitors to these machines, but ever since we have seen the newer preloaded machine, there has been quite an outcry by many collectors wishing they could still use their preferred copper pennies. It’s taken quite a few years but seems like this company has figured it out.

Since the release of this first penny machine at the Detroit Zoo they have released a second machine with new designs as well and you can read a press release about them here. Of course since word of this new style of machine was posted about, everyone seems to be on the lookout for more of them. I have not seen or heard of any in the Orlando or Central Florida areas as of yet. That may be due to these machines being created by a different vendor. But I am anxious to try and find one on my own travels so I can try it out in person. If any of you have come across this new style of machine be sure to leave a comment below. Keep on Pressing!!