I found a 2000 P dime in my pocket last week. At first, I thought the outer clad layer had worn off, but I noticed I could see the details fairly well on the reverse. The obverse is mottled. The copper appears darker than normal. From the side, you can see two layers. The nickel/silver layer becomes almost nonexisitant as you rotate it. I've sent 3 pictures. Excuse the fingerprints on the side picture. I had trouble getting it to stand on its side. Is this an error, or has someone doctored this coin?
Question for you.....does the surface of the dime have a "pitted" look to it? If so, then I'd say its been in contact with acid, intentionally, or otherwise.
Washed old copper/nickel coins usually lose their nickel But this AMASING coin is from the year 2000...
I looked at the dime under a microscope - no pitting. There is a nic on the front on the neck near the date. What's odd is that the nic is a bright silver color (if held at an angle). The front has thin splotches of silver coloring. Still, it is thin and I expected a copper color from the nic. The reverse color is much darker than the copper from a Lincoln cent from 2000. It is more the color of a copper coin that has a lot of age on it. Yet it has luster and the details are good. There are no nics on the reverse.
Tough to say without seeing the coin, but given the comment on the nick on the front, I'd say your looking at corrosion. I've seen nickels and dimes in similar condition.
Weigh it. If it comes out to 2.28 grams, then it's a discolored dime. If it comes out to about 1.88 grams, then it's missing the reverse clad layer.
I found something similiar... I do not see any nickel at all, there is no later line on the side either.
