What causes this?

Nemo

What causes a coin to look this way? And what are the lines that are going through it?

PeakRarities

Corrosion / Environmenal Damage

The lines on many state coins will be die polish, but in other cases they're hairlines or scratches from cleaning. I cant tell with this example from that picture.

jedm

I will guess that it fell in the crack between the seat and the console of a 1986 Oldsmobile back in 1994 after going through the drive through at Burger King, and remained there until 2016 when the car was taken to the crusher, where it was dislodged and flew to the ground. It was found on the ground last week at the metal recycling center. Not sure about the lines. Am I close?

Fraz

Septic tank soak and concretion.

Nemo

@DeplorableDan said:
Corrosion / Environmenal Damage

The lines on many state coins will be die polish, but in other cases they're hairlines or scratches from cleaning. I cant tell with this example from that picture.

@jedm said:
I will guess that it fell in the crack between the seat and the console of a 1986 Oldsmobile back in 1994 after going through the drive through at Burger King, and remained there until 2016 when the car was taken to the crusher, where it was dislodged and flew to the ground. It was found on the ground last week at the metal recycling center. Not sure about the lines. Am I close?

haha, no it's been in a clay pig for the last 20+ years.

ricko

Environmental damage and the lines 'appear' to be from an old cleaning. The active component of the environment worked quickly on the lines due to the fresh metal exposed. Cheers, RickO

johnny9434

@Fraz said:
Septic tank soak and concretion.

that stinks

slider23

My guess is the coin was sitting on a wood grain surface in a damp environment, and the lines are toning from the wood grain surface.