When you have a coin struck by a die/die set that is LDS or VLDS (late die states), the devices are largely worn out and take on that deteriorated die appearance. You begin to lose contrast of the devices and begin to see heavy flow lines on the surface of the coin and around the devices. Where die wash is excessive, you start to see a 'smeared' appearance on the outer most devices. As your fellow enthusiast note, it's die deterioration strike. Very common for early 60s nickels.
