I see the discoloration and then I see a series of straight lines. My first thought was is was very careful ground down to remove the I. So I'm sticking to that.
Look closely at the top of the I near the rim. It looks like a tiny bit of zinc is showing. It's very faint. Also, the bottom of the I is showing. Not arguing, just saying. Let me know what you see.
Much of the I is visible under the surface imperfection. Some of the pattern trails off into the field like ripped threads of cloth. I would not say that it was ground down. I’m going with struck through cloth and a cool find.
I don't see the zinc but the zoomed in photos are too grainy to tell, for me. The parallel lines look a bit like the back of an polishing cloth for a possible strike-through explanation. ? Interesting find.
@Jeffery thomas Do you have a question? You need to start your own separate thread.. The Cent is dirty and and damaged and the Quarter is to bright to tell anything.