Copper quarter????

I am a metal detectorist and a recent permission has delivered some interesting finds. I am searching an old home site in NE Florida that burned down many years ago and two restaurants were built on the site. So far I’ve uncovered one horseshoe, 3 axe heads ( one is a broad axe), a very old rusted pearl handled .38 revolver, pocket knife, an 1895 Barber Dime, an 1864 “Fatty” Indian Head penny and ......what appears to be a copper colored US quarter.

The quarter was not even identifiable as a coin as it is covered with a dried black material similar to possibly tar. I dismissed it as a punch out or other round piece of metal when I noticed the edge is reeded. Curious I tossed it into my tumbler, thinking I may have an old British copper. After a short period in the tumbler I pulled it out and saw the word “America” along the rim. Now I’m really curious and carefully scraped off some more of whatever is coating it and can recognize it as a US quarter.

A COPPER colored quarter.

I’m not going forward in trying to clean it until I get some reactions from our resident experts. I’ve heard of coins without the cladding coat. Is this possibly one? If so, what should I do ?

 

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Looks like dirty silver to me. Soak it in acetone. No rubbing. Welcome to CT.

 

The quarter has environmental damage from being in the ground. I would dip it in acetone and see if that crud came off.

 

Likely 25 cents. If you soak it in something to remove the tar & the date is pre 1965 then $2

 

Environmental damage From being in the ground for a while. From the edge of the coin it looks to be clad. Can’t see the date

25 cents

 

Do I see a "77"?

Chris

 

I believe the discoloring is simply explained by extended exposure to the elements. Resident expert @paddyman98 may be able to shed some light.

 

@Chip Kirkpatrick
Yes... definitely Environmental Damage.
It looks like 1977. Quarters have a Clad Layer that contains copper. When exposed to the elements it will turn a copper color.

If the quarter were struck on a Cent Copper Planchet it would be the same size and weight of a Cent... obviously that is not the case.

The missing Clad question? That is not what you have. A Missing Clad layer only occurs on one side of a Clad Coin.

Here are examples from my collection -