When the zinc is exposed, the zinc can start rotting. This happens in stages:

You will often notice the gray color on these areas:



This will allow oxygen to get to the zinc and swell on the coin, or eventually allow a hole in the plating. Not a good thing. Spend these before the end process happens. If they are exposed to acid, this accelerates the process. Just a spender coin. If one a variety coin, then it becomes a problem coin.

Avoid these, and look for an example with out the split plating.
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What is split plating?