Around the eye/nose area, it looks like it has been gouged out (like its not filled all the way in). I looked at other 1996 P Quarters and they don't look like this one.
Over polished die. Those area of the design have the shallowest relief, just slightly higher than the field. If the die is overpolished it eventually lowers the relief enough that those areas are at the same height as the field and detail is polished away.
