coil arcing

["Walt Philipson" <wphilipson@bigfoot.com>]

6 packers

While checking my compression last night, I removed the high tension lead at
the coil. (I usually remove it at the distributor but just did it
differently this time). As I cranked the engine I got an arc from the center
post on the coil to the + terminal on the coil. I stopped  and disconnected
the negative lead to stop the arcing. I've never seen this before. Would
this be a bad thing?

Walt P

'74 6