1980 5cent tarnish or tombac?

[Jade]

My friend sent me a photo of a coin she has and wants to know why it looks this way.. she is claiming it to be made from brass but I told her it’s not likely to find a tombac nickel minted in 1980 and that it’s more likely to be heavily tarnished… anybody else confirm this for me?

[coinguy]

Not a brass 5 cent, it is made of 100% nickel that has been environmentally toned.
Ask your friend how she thinks that a brass planchet would suddenly appear amongst
the millions of nickel planchets. Where would it come from.