Your opinions please.....

Hi all,
When I get any coins from shops/banks or buy on ebay, I search everything carefully for ones that I need for my collection.
I put aside any that are really damaged or really dirty & have started to upload images of the ones that I have to swap.
I DO NOT clean coins, so any that are on my swap list as 'dirty' will be send as they are. Given that I don't clean coins, I had a very dirty 1967 penny , bought some clear vinegar & soaked it for 30 minutes. The result is as shown.



If it was a less common coin would it now be ruined by cleaning it?
How many would want something that has been cleaned?
Is it now scrap (time to drill a hole in it & use it as a washer)
Thanks
Merv

Cleaning when performed with art and all the necessary knowledge is not a problem, as Fluke for verdigris removal.
The problem with your experience is that the copper will turn to black in a few weeks because it is without protection anymore, so your restoration is not sustainable.

Thanks for the information.
I'll leave it for a few weeks & see what happens, if it changes I'll take pictures and add them.
Merv

As they Minted 164,000,000 Penny's in 1967 I don't think Cleaning or not Cleaning the Penny is a Problem as it wont Increase or Decrease its Value whatsoever but experimenting with your Cleaning will give you some answers to what happens and its effect when you do clean a Coin as it can and does cause irreversible damage depending on how its done its best left to the experts.
Ian.

It's been about 5 or 6 weeks since I soaked the penny.
I took these pictures this morning for comparison.

As you can see your Penny is Starting to Darken and will go even Darker over time.

I have many 1967 Pennies and tend to Give them to Schools for them to give to Chilldren to learn the old £ s d System in History Lessons.
Ian.