This is a Canadian nickel dollar, struck on a 5.6 gram Cu-Ni planchet (unattributed, but likely the New Zealand 10c that the Royal Canadian Mint also struck that year). It is in an older PCGS MS-64 holder. It sold in the 2012 Heritage Long Beach auction as part of a Canadian error lot. This coin is available for me to buy, but I am hesitating. Despite the MS-64 grade, which would be an upgrade from my own similar error graded AU-53, I am hesitating because of the negative eye-appeal, in particular the two spots on the obverse (2 o'clock near the edge, and 6 o'clock). I don't collect coins struck in copper-nickel alloys, and I am curious to know what the heck am I looking in this PCGS encapsulated coin?? Is this only surperficial damage on the coin?? Could the coin be broken out of the older PCGS slab and saved?? Or is this is sign of corrosion?? Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Ugh, anyways I do not like the coin pictured. It looks like someone got spaghetti sauce on their pocket change during dinnertime...
If that is the copper from the error planchet showing through it comes with the turf and belongs on the coin, right? Funny that it stayed so round if the die was so much larger I assume since the image covers only part of the planchet. What is the diameter of this coin and of a regular one?
As to whether it's corrosion, I don't know. It doesn't look like it to me. Do you know if it was like this when it was sold previously or did the spots appear recently? PCGS does offer a restoration service now for a fee. They examine it and determine if it's something they can remove and then reslab the coin. It might be an option if the coins value warrants it.
The coin is worth in excess of $1500 (I was the underbidder at the 2012 Long Beach auction)... but that is a lot of money to be chasing an error coin I already have, just in a better grade. It almost looks like a spot of copper or something (poor alloy mixing?)... do you ever see this with US 5-cent (similar alloy ratio) coins??
