Hello, I was sorting through my jar of change and found a 1979 Quarter that looked odd to me maybe an error or just damaged. The mint mark I cannot tell what letter it is it just looks like a dot. The Y in liberty is almost missing and the left eagles wing is raised almost like it bubbled up but it doesn’t have any flame markings. I know nothing about coins and don’t even know where to start with this thing. I’m thinking it might be just damage but was super curious because if it is damaged how could the other side not show any type of damage to the left wing?
Looks like heat damage - clad coins sometimes bubble up when they are heated up like leaving a quarter on a hot stove. This quarter looks like it got some kind of heat and then cleaned with a a wire wheel or brush.
First, welcome to the neighborhood, Jacqueline! Being new to numismatics, searching for Mint errors is probably the worst facet of the hobby to start with. There are "gazillions" of ways that coins can be damaged, both intentionally and unintentionally, while in circulation. The problem you will encounter is that very, very, very few are given names, so the likelihood of finding anything about them in an internet search is pretty much futile. However, if your desire is to learn more about Mint errors, then I'd suggest that you acquire a book on the subject to help get you started. Good luck!
Here's one that's recently out...highly recommended. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/new-book-mint-errors-to-die-for.376795/
DEFDAM - Definitely Damaged Not a mint error of any kind. Suggestion.. There is a Error Coins forum here on CoinTalk. Use that forum instead of the What's it Worth forum.. It's more important to find out what you may have first than anything else.