See-- by the experts not being sure ---tell me that I should send it in --afterall--I.m still learning-- got to read a few book -- went to varietyerror.com and got some knowledge from you guys--i will only get better ---
It looks nothing like a missing clad layer. I've been doing this for a long long time. So have the other members that responded to your coin. We have nothing to gain by lying and you did state you are new to this. A missing clad layer looks more copper than gold like. The gold color is toning.
If it is remaining gold plating it's still damage. Modern clad quarters don't tone this way, this color or this pattern.
"Sending it in..." reminds me of the old George Carlin routine where he talks about sending away to Battle Creek Michigan... Having a coin graded/authenticated is not a cheap process. You are usually expected to join the group ($), pay for the coin to be graded ($) and pay for the shipping back ($). Break even point is generally considered to be $100-$150 or so.