Does This V Nickel Look Cleaned?

I'll say yes, and rather harshly at that.

Why does it look grainy? Is it cleaning?

In this case, it is worth giving a reason why we think it may have been cleaned.

Cleaned? Yes.

My reason:
It has a complete lack of original patina, because there is no luster under the now re patinated coin. There seems to be some very fine parallel hairlines on the obverse.
I would suggest that a commercial metal cleaner may have been used, possibly rubbed lightly with a fine cotton rag, a long time ago.

That is a pity, because the coin itself is in otherwise in an almost uncirculated grade.

Is it still collectible? Definitely yes, but a TPG may decline to grade it, if submitted.

Thankyou for the excellent pictures, without which it would have been very hard to make an accurate comment, even if mine may be slightly wrong.

Wow. It takes some kind of brushing to mar nickel like that.

For some reason, I'm not a big fan of this seller but I have to hand it to him - his images let you know for sure what you're getting. He doesn't deceive.