Last year while visiting a period reenactment at Bridgnorth railway station, my son posed with two gentlemen in American G.I. gear. They were very friendly and we chatted for a short while before going back home. Before we left, the one man gave my son this penny which he treasured as if it were worth a fortune. We got it home safely, but at some point it disappeared. However, (about 9 months later) I found it hiding under a cupboard. I was observing the wear on it and wondered what stories it must hold. Was the wear due to general use or was it somebody's lucky penny?
It was only after I turned it over that I realised the penny was minted in 1920 so is 100 years old! How many times must it have been used to pay for something, changed hands, or been lost and found?
Back in the 1920s, people were still blissfully unaware of decimalisation. It was all pounds, shillings and pence that were made up of odd numbers and denominations that nobody can understand any more. However, a penny back then could've bought you a bottle of milk, some bread or a newspaper. Nowadays, a penny is just something to eat your pockets down.
Despite its long history and being afraid what might happen, I decided to give the coin a bit of a clean in some vinegar and salt that brought back the original bronze shine and hopefully I didn't damage it in any way. I preferred the dirty look, but no doubt it will age over time, and change hands many times long after we are gone. Even though, in a couple hundred years, it might be worth a lot to a collector, I hope it finds its way into another boy's imagination!