This Jefferson nickel is showing very feignt hints of the start of rainbow toning but the biggest distraction here is this yellow/green almost phlegm-like color that seems to be overtaking both sides of the coin. Can anyone confirm that is indeed some toning variety that I've never run across in the past, or, have the high school science lab kids been up to their regular tricks and used another coin in their latest experiments? I hope the rainbow toning shows through in the pictures I'll upload now. Thanks in advance!
It looks more like it has a coating on it that has yellowed, rather than toning. It could be glue, lacquer, poly... Acetone should remove it.
Hi Robert, I agree with Emmett up there. It looks like someone took some glue or rubber cement to it. I'd just spend it and move onward, better luck next time.
Sure looks like old adhesive or varnish. If it doesn't come off, spend it. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that never in the history of selling coins has a premium been garnered with a description of "phlegm-colored toning."
Hahaha, you know you've stared at the coin too long trying to figure out what the hell is it when you come up with that descriptor. Sorry about that! But that's the only thing that came to mind trying to figure out what color to give it! Even if this was mint damage error whatever, the condition of this coin is too far gone to do anything but spend it. I was just on a fact finding mission here to get the question monkey in my brain to shut up. Thanks everyone!
Thanks Emmett! You know question monkey is forcing me to get the can of acetone out of the garage and have fun with science now! My OCD is kicking in. Lols!
Looks like some bad environmental damage. Nickel doesn't react with much, but when it does, it goes downhill fast.
Exactly - try a variety of solvents - dip a QTip into rubbing alcohol, acetone, GoofOff (a mix of alcohol and ethers), or some other gunk dissolving chemical - give your coin a gentle rub a dub and see how the stain reacts - if you see coloration on the cotton swab, you know it's coming off the nickel. CAUTION: Do this outdoors and away from flame or spark - be safe
Thanks for all the tips guys! I started by giving the coin a nice olive oil bath with a gentle dabbing with a micro fiber cloth. This coin doesn't know what's coming. In a way i feel a little bad knowing what it's about to get as i gently dab it dry. Lols bwahahaha
