1975 Lincoln penny with altered LIBERTY lettering (Pic)

Hello, this is my first post although I have been reading now for awhile. I have recently found a 1975 penny without a mint mark where the lettering in “LIBERTY”seems to be slightly slanted. The letters I am particularly referring to are the “I” and the “B”. Forgive me for not trying to clean the penny prior. Is this a special error?

 

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The letters just took a hit.
Damaged.. Worth 1 Cent

No need to clean. Some members will say you should never clean any coin. If it's rare you can reduce its value by cleaning.

 

Thank you for mentioning that!

 

Welcome to CoinTalk. Your coin was damaged after it left the mint and is not an error.

Improper cleaning can remove patina, leave hairlines of the surface on the coin, and sometimes impair luster on AU/MS coins, causing the value to drop by up to 50%, sometimes more, on coins worth more than face/melt value. So, yeah, not a good idea to clean coins you suspect it has value. For dirty coins, soak in distilled water, with mild soap if necessary. If that doesn't work, you can try acetone.

 

Very helpful! Thank you for your response!

 

If you do try acetone, be sure to use in a well ventelated area or outside, acetone is flammable and can be harmful if inhaled. The above methodes will not harm your coins.

 

Great advice! I was actually very curious about a proper cleaning strategy so thank you very much!

 

Also, a few more things I forgot to mention...
Only rinse coins with distilled water, tap water can harm coins.
Do not use nail polish remover to clean coins, it is not pure acetone.
Do not rub coins. When cleaning with acetone, roll a cotton swab over the surface (it is best to wear latex gloves while doing this) while submerged in acetone instead of rubbing. When drying, use a clean, soft cotton towel to pat it dry instead of rubbing with the towel.
Do not pour acetone into a plastic cup. Use a shot glass or coffee cup instead. Be careful when using glass or other hard materials, they can ding the coins.

 

Outstanding! Thank you!