Someone Must Have Been Really Hard Up For A Quarter

Nobody dumps "proofs" into circulation.

What's usually happening is dealers are cutting up hundreds or sometimes thousands of sets to sell to the big retailing companies or Shop at Home. A percentage of proof sets have cull coins and these culls simply have to be removed because the retailers don't want them. It tends to be a low percentage and would only be about 4% for '87 quarters but the percentage can be much higher. If you're cutting up say "200" proof sets of each date you'll have a very substantial number of rejects and most of these dealers simply take them to the bank. They could probably sell them at a slight profit but it would hardly be worth the effort and could result in some unhappy customers. Besides, getting them into circulation might stir someone's interest in collecting coins and pay far higher dividends than any other means of dispersing them.

A few proofs will get into circulation by various means but almost everyone you see will be a cull that was spent by dealer who chops up lots of proof sets whenever the value of the pieces exceeds the value of the set.

I once (~2001) got a 1968-S nickel worn to to VG. It was attractive.

The only one I've ever found is a 2011 Lincoln Cent, and I've gone through about 7 boxes of pennies. They're pretty hard to find.

I can't believe someone is so poor they would have to spend their collectible quarters. I feel bad for them more than anything - it's heartbreaking. Interestingly enough I have found several gold plated dimes in tip jars - I buy them for FV.

I've found two silver Kennedy proofs while roll searching. It happens.

Years ago I worked as a graveyard cashier for a grocery store and a guy came in at 4am and bought diapers with proof silver coins and of course I bought them all out of the register.

The gentleman in front of me last week at the bank tried to trade in a gold covered quarter and the bank would not take it. They said it was not legal tender. He had left by the time I was done. Not saying that I would have really been interested in it but for face value it would have been nice to give to one of my nephews or nieces. Or even tell the guy that there are coin shops in the area that would trade it out for him. oh well

The gold plated quarters would surely work in vending machines.

One more thought... when I see gold plated coins, I'm expecting to find chocolate inside!