Another small coin

[Douglas G. Wilson]

A long-dormant neuron just fired.

When I was young, I occasionally heard the expression 'case quarter' =
'quarter' [coin]. I haven't heard it recently.

This was not a minimizer/intensifier or whatever, like 'red cent', 'thin
dime'. 'Case quarter' seemed to mean exactly '[a] quarter'; e.g.,

Q: How much is this newspaper?

A: Case quarter.

This would be circa 1960, Detroit.

Anybody recognize this? Is it a special, uh, case of a more general
construction? Have I misheard something?

-- Doug Wilson