Expert: PAPAJACK - 11/2/2007

Question
I'm not much of a coin collector but I hang on to the occasional "silver quarter" and "wheat pennies" etc. that happen along.
The other day I got a 1985 US Quarter from a vending machine as change. This quarter seems to have sunken copper all the way around it. That's to say: Looking at it from the edge, it resembles an Oreo cookie... The "filling" is of a smaller diameter than the face and back of the coin. What's THIS mystery all about? Thanks, Dave.

Answer
Hello Dave,                               

This coin has been altered in some way. The minting process might leave a smooth edge but could not remove more copper than what the harder nickel-clad surface would allow.
The coin would have no added value.
The soft copper has been removed somehow. Possibly chemically etched away or mechanically removed.

This may have had a thread around it to use as a slug in a pay telephone or other vending machine.
Without seeing the coin and examining the edges I cannot state for sure.  

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack