2009 odd looking rainbow color and some kind of weird design can someone help explain if its an error or damage?
2009 is an anniversary of Abraham Lincoln, and there are a few varieties of these coins. The colors is something called toning. Can happen naturally, or it can happen when someone heats up the coin or spills some sort of chemical on it.
I've explained this before.. I've worked building maintenance for several years. When people discard of their pennies sometimes they toss them into building entrances. The bums at night urinate on them so when time passes the urine dries up and forms the rainbow coloring.. I've seen it plenty of times.
Let me give you some good advice. After coin roll hunting please wash your hands very good with soap and hot water. Bad bacteria is not a good thing for anyone. I always wash after handling huge amount of coins and after metal detecting.
Yes, "that" can be one reason, but not the only reason; other contaminents can cause rainbow toning. It's merely a chemical reaction with the surface of the coin. And yes, all coins (& notes, for that matter) are contaminated with bacteria. Wash your hands regularly!
LOL - I always get a laugh when you post that! I am positive you are correct however i would like to beg to differ that this would be the only way to get that type of toning on a coin.