Is this buffalo nickel an error of some kind?

[checkman]

I found this metal detecting. I rinsed it off and realized that it may be an error of some sort. I figured that I should have some of you guys look at it before I dare to think of cleaning it. Here are some pics. I do have these in high res if anyone wants to see them.

Thanks!

 

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[sagittarius98]

I think that the ground may have been acidic eating away some of the coin.

 

[Arizona Bob]

When the coins are viewed in the xray mode, it looks to me like the obverse and the reverse are from two different buffalo nickels. The lettering condition on the obverse seems very different from the reverse. It's probably just an illusion of lighting, but the obverse lettering appears to be almost indented (as if it were a mold).

 

[checkman]

I assure you that both pictures are of the same nickel. The letters do look indented on the obverse. Also, there are those horizontal bands. Could this be a "lamination error?" Here is a better pic of the obverse:

 

[sagittarius98]

I assure you that both pictures are of the same nickel. The letters do look indented on the obverse. Also, there are those horizontal bands. Could this be a "lamination error?" Here is a better pic of the obverse:

The surface looks really weird and looks like it may have been struck in a mold like AB said. My red book says that a lamination error for a buf nickel is only $25, but probably not in this condition. I think the only pure indicator of telling what it is is to clean it further, maybe using this method


http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=321381.0;

 

[watercolor]

That's how all my buff's look coming acid soil conditions.

The horizontal striations are from grass, roots, sticks, etc. that were stuck to the coin just after it was lost. Whatever was stuck to the coin offered some protection from the environment.

As far as cleaning goes, it's condition is "toast" anyway so brush it softly with a fine bristle brass brush. I've been doing mine that way and they've turned out better than expected. The brass bristles are softer than the metal composition of the nickel so it doesn't really harm them.

HOWEVER, if it's a key date in really nice condition, have it professionally conserved.

 

[sagittarius98]

That's how all my buff's look coming acid soil conditions.

The horizontal striations are from grass, roots, sticks, etc. that were stuck to the coin just after it was lost. Whatever was stuck to the coin offered some protection from the environment.

As far as cleaning goes, it's condition is "toast" anyway so brush it softly with a fine bristle brass brush. I've been doing mine that way and they've turned out better than expected. The brass bristles are softer than the metal composition of the nickel so it doesn't really harm them.

HOWEVER, if it's a key date in really nice condition, have it professionally conserved.

Or you can use the method I posted.