The coil pictured looks to be the credit relay, it's not unusual for them to look a little toasted, he'd have to lift the terminal connections off of it & ohm it out at this point. ( he said it was latched "On" all the time) but even then it shouldn't cause a vend cycle until a selection is made, it could also be a stuck selection switch.
If the relay ohms OK, I'd reconnect it, power up the machine and observe if vend motor starts running right off the get-go ( without any coins being inserted), and the credit relay is being held in, then I'd pull the coinmechs Jones (power) connector & see if it ( the credit relay) unlatches & the vend motor stops spinning. It is possible the coinmechs internal vend relay is stuck (and the MARS coinmech shown isn't known for its reliability.)
some machines also used a delivery switch ( down by the bottle chute) that told the credit relay that the soda has "dropped" & it allows the relay to unlatch, terminating the vending cycle.
Hi JohnieG
Thank You for your trouble shooting advice.
I ohm out the relay, looks like it is dead. Ordered 2 new relays today. So while I wait on the relays I am going to go over all the wiring. Replace anything that is suspect (better safe then sorry). As well as check the coinmechs internals.
Jeff