This 1981 Quarter has a funny odd "Grey Gun Metal" look to it; Doubling on the "In God We Trust"; The "I" and the "N" are completely merged and/or smashed together. The "MM" is just a "blob".
Coins have interesting lives. It was probably recently exposed to a harsh environment like chemicals or heating. If left to circulate it would probably wear down enough to look normal again unless it is lost first.
has various damage on it over 41 years. You photo, the camera focused on the background and not the coin. Maybe your camera was too close ? But you can see damage across the last 1 in 1981, and some damage below the T(rust) and I(in) ... so the smooshed "IN" is probably damage. 41 years .. think of all the damage that could have happened to it. If you look at the surface on the reverse it looks cobbly ... so environmental damage.
While unlikely, there is a possibility it could be counterfeit. I recall reading in a 1998 edition of Coin World counterfeit quarters with dates in the early 1980's were being found in circulation. Weigh it if you can and go use it in a vending machine. If it gets rejected over and over you'll know you're onto something.
Looks incredibly similar to hundreds of circulation damaged and/or worn die minted coins I've had the pleasure of spending over the years. DEFDAM- Definitely Damaged, not an error.
I had believed that was the question. '81-P quarters usually have a blob instead of a MM. They also are commonly seen with the peripheral lettering very poorly defined. I don't see any "doubling". The most exceptional thing about the coin is that it is so heavily worn for the date. The second most exceptional thing is that it isn't as scratched up as most of this date. I see no characteristic that lies outside the 10th to 90th %iles. You might want to try a better picture if there is any doubling.
