Inherited some odd coins and would really like to know more!? I don't know anything about coins, but would love to learn! Is this missing clad?!? I would be grateful for any help. Thanks
As @paddyman98 mentioned, nickels do not have clad layers. Modern (post-1965) clad coins (dimes, quarters, halves and dollars) have layers of copper-nickel alloy on the outside and pure copper on the inside, like a "sandwich". This is visible on the edge of the coin. With a missing clad layer, one or both of those outer (copper-nickel) layers was missing when the coin got struck. (In other words, like a piece of bread was missing off the "sandwich".) When that happens, you end up with a coin that has an unusual copper-colored appearance on one or both sides instead of the more whitish look of copper-nickel alloy. But this isn't possible on a nickel, since those are all copper-nickel and don't have the pure copper center. (No "sandwich" layers.) Your coin is just toned/discolored. 5 grams is the normal weight for a US nickel. 4.8 g is probably not too unusual for a well-circulated coin, I suppose.