I have one of these somewhere. I knew it was plated, doubt it's an original, but wondered what would make someone do something like this. I just figured it was coin abuse. Not sure if I even remember what year. Maybe they were attempting to re-enact this Joshing... Learn something new every day!
I am guessing that, for a lot of the plated V nickels, the legend came first - then came the plated nickels. Ah, numismyth. Where is our Sir Lancelot to slay this foul beast?
Interestingly enough a couple years ago I saw a 1883 with cents that had been plated. Too bad actually as it was in high grade
A diving crew recently found a loch ness monster prop from a 1970s Sherlock Holmes film in loch ness.