Found this roll hunting. I figured its just plated but it has wear and I can't see anything but copper below the worn spots. I don't have a scale that works right now and it doesn't appear thinner than a normal half.
Environmental Damage. The clad layer is made of Cupro-nickel.. When exposed to the elements it will turn a darker color. Like this quarter I metal detected
My first thought was ED. However, if you can detect a layer of something (stain, paint, etc.) put it in a jar with a little acetone and a lid. You can't hurt this coin as it is face value, and the brown stuff might come off. (Then rinse.) If it doesn't come off, it's most likely ED as Paddy mentioned. Or you might like the way it looks as it is.
I disagree. It does matter how coins become damaged and it would serve every collector to know the hows and whys. Anyway, the half is not from environmental damage. The colors and surface are way too uniform. 99% sure it is a wood stain coating on it.
Took it to my local coin store and he took a closer look he is kind of stumped I asked him about staining and he said it wasn't stained but could be ED. He also wasn't too sure about it being burried. I left it with him because he wanted a friend of his from another town to check it out. Its looking like we will never know for sure
