Wouldn't the edge change also?the coin itself appears to have a natural dark grainy pinta but the edge remains a normal orange color.So i would think a mint made defect which in this case could be a thin planchet, not damaged.
Ok then,I don't know a lot about acid or the effects it has on coins. (what to look for)thought the coin could've actually been something.
I would guess that the edge got rubbed or beaten enough to wear off that patina. Look at the way the devices sort of stretch toward the rim on the reverse. I see that a lot on acid-etched coins. I also see it on coins struck with extremely worn dies, but I don't see it on coins struck on thin planchets. (Full disclosure, I mean "photos of" such coins; I haven't handled a lot of them directly, so pay more attention to people who have.)
Well, I'm not disputing anyone else, but if that was a defective planchet (thin) wouldn't it have that weak strike and look like this coin? I just can't get my head around acid of any type leaving a coin looking like this.
A weak strike will have a combination of stronger and weaker/missing areas due to metal flow. The OP coin is weak/fuzzy all over which is consistent with being exposed to an acidic environment.
With a split planchet some of the details would be completely missing because the planchet was too thin when the coin was struck!!! This is a split planchet coin!
