1986-P Copper Nickel?

I found a 1986-P nickel. It's in circulated condition, but still highly glossy, and does cartwheels. The strange part though is that it is entirely copper. I posted two pictures, but had trouble getting them on my hard drive, so here they are:

http://i25.tinypic.com/1zbs2zq.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/av4hu.jpg

I went to a coin shop, and he said that it was only worth a couple of bucks, but he said he'd never heard of anything like it, and didn't know entirely how valuable it was. I just want a second opinion, really. I have yet to find anything remotely close to this out on the internet, but maybe someone reading this has answers. Thanks!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I don't see how either coin could possibly display luster (cartwheels) but the one on the left looks like it was dug outta the ground.

I'm pretty sure you're saying that the one on the left can do "cartwheels". I think you need to look up a redefinition of luster. There is no way that coin could ever show luster in that condition.

However, I may be wrong. It may be missing the nickel plating.

 

Nickels are not plated. This coin was probably found laying on the ground. My kids find coins like this on the playground (dirt playground) at school and bring them home all the time. If it were left there any longer it would eventually turn black.

 

Here's what dug coins look like.

http://www.treasurequestxlt.com/community/showthread.php?t=43433&highlight=Nickel

as you can see they turn black and if cleaned can have a copper color. Ice

 

yea, i have one just like that. i would probably guess it was in the ground at some point

 

Environmentally discolored.

 

Can't find a pic of my U.S. nickel that looks like yours but I have a Canadian one that I dug up. Similar....

 

I am looking for answers also because I have 1 as well and have not had any luck finding anything out on it. I did take it to a coin dealer and he told my husband and I to get it insured before he sent it out but he scraped it just a bit and it's copper all the way. Please if you could message me on Facebook so we can discuss this further. The name is Edward Rossiter

 

If your nickel is another color than Nickel then it is Environmental Damage. It was explained in this thread. Nickel changes color when exposed to the elements for long periods of time. Sand, soil and dirt will make it look like Copper when it is not.
If it were struck on a Copper Cent planchet it would be thinner and smaller in circumference. The size of a normal Cent...think about it carefully.

 

@Mandy Rossiter
Your not the only person with that name on FB! There are like 15 others.