Is this some kind of proof?

Yes, I will cheerfully concede that since there's no way to determine what it looked like out of the Mint. It could have been a Cameo Proof. Doesn't change the fact that it's run into either severe environmental degradation or a sandblaster since, and has been ruined for any kind of collectibility.

 

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It's NOT a proof. They didn't mint proofs at Denver.

 

Dave, are you serious? Look at the surfaces and then look at the devices. The texture shows on the surfaces because the planchet has been burnished, but the devices are crisp and well-defined. Something that you would probably not see on a coin that has been sand (or media) blasted.

Admittedly, anything is possible, but I think it might be a mistake to dismiss it as PMD out of hand. Also admittedly, I have never sand blasted a coin and don't know what this would look like.

 

This was my first thought.

 

Well, assign the mention of a Cameo Proof to hyperbole, which is what it was.

I have a fair amount of experience with sandblasting - I used to create signs in all sorts of substrates with that technique - and finer sand compounds exist whose purpose in life is to just etch a matte finish onto polished metal (including aluminum, which is soft and very easily scratched especially when polished), and could result in exactly what's happened to this coin. I've done it. In fact, you might want to contemplate how they get that finish onto the Satin dies in the first place....

Not that I think that's the cause; to me it's undoubtedly environmental degradation. The size of the pitting is far coarser than actual Satin coins are - PCGS CoinFacts has a couple really nice illustrations for comparison. Not_a_chance it came from the Mint like that. The remote possibility exists that it's a Satin finish coin which was then subject to environmental damage.

 

totally agree, Dave... I was puzzled about the surfaces, they truly don't look like an SMS coin, but I figure after it circulated... anything can happen.

on a slightly different topic, have you ever seen a sand blast proof St. Gauden's $20? They actually sand blasted the finished proof coin! Insane!

 

I don't think it has been blasted or chemically treated in any way. Why? Because there is no evidence that the facing parts of the rim have been affected. Chemicals would have affected all parts of the coin. Blasting would do the same unless it was very carefully masked prior to blasting. Also, the surface appears to me to have raised mounds rather than micro-divots like blasting would do. Mounds would suggest the die was blasted. I'd like to see closer photos of the surface and the rim from a couple of angles.

 

These nickels are relatively new. Could it be a latter die state?