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FACT BRIEF

Does microwaving a penny for one minute cause it to shrink into a mini coin?

By Kaiyah Clarke
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NO

A social media post claimed that you can create your very own mini penny by microwaving it.

Metals expand when heated -- not shrink. Also, microwaving any metallic item, such as a coin, is dangerous as it can cause sparks and, ultimately, a fire.

So no, and don't do it.

If you really want a tiny penny, you can buy one online.

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
United States Mint Fun Facts related to the Penny
Francis (YouTube user) Microwaving coins video
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.