because if people saw the iron they would immediately understand these are "cheap" coins...
No they don't. Yet.
But it really show the worthlessness of FIAT IMHO.
For a hobby I do searching with a metal detector.
It is really funny to dig up perfectly year 1766 coins and see the degradation in time.
1800+ coins are already mixed with iron because they rust a bit.
1900+ are worse and you are very lucky to find an intact euro "copper" coin because 2006 "copper" coins are already looking like cauliflower.
In 20 years time you won't find a euro "copper" coin but you'll still find intact year 1700 coins.
It really made me think about our current monetary system while walking on the beach etc.