2021 P Mint Dime With Gold Obverse

Guessing this is just some sort of environmental discoloring and not worth a premium.



to the CCF!

The cladding on the dime is 75% copper, 25% nickel. Any corrosion reaction (what most members on here toss under "environmental exposure" or "staining") that leads to a surface enriched in copper can give it a yellow to reddish color. This toning or discoloration can still look shiny and metallic.

Key point: the discolored surface is likely thin. That means it wears through easily, and it does so on the high points first. That is exactly what you described on your dime.

It is often a one sided effect. If the coin is laying flat in a corrosive environment, such as spilled soda in a cup holder, one side is not likely to be affected the same way as the other due to a difference in the local chemical environments.

More extreme versions of coins like yours are frequently posted on this forum under the mistaken ID of missing clad. Pretty sure this isn't the first one Coinfrog has seen posted on here, or in person.

to the Community!