Yes the grooves bother me too. The photos don't show the difference in appearance/shininess of the 3rd layer...the rev is struck on. Kind of has a dime shiny appearance more noticeable on the edge than on the reverse of the coin. The front two layers may be just one because there is not the same color difference between them and I can't follow the front groove 360 degrees around the coin like I can with the most rearward groove. The overall diameter is 20.85mm and a standard nickel I have is 21.23mm. I have no doubt it has been in a dryer or something similar but those grooves still have me puzzled. Hope my curiosity doesn't get the best of me and I cut it in half to know for sure...just joking:)