Clipped planchets are a kind of error coin that happens when a planchet, or coin blank, is cut incorrectly in the minting process. This improper cut results in a missing piece along the edge of a coin, which can take several forms, including straight and curved clips, giving the coin an irregular shape. The missing portion of the edge of a coin is a defining feature of clipped planchets. These error coins are popular among collectors for their unique appearance, rarity, and insight into the coining process.
Types of Clipped Planchet Errors and Causes
Clipped planchets are made in the first stage of the minting process. In this stage, large sheets of metal are fed into a blanking press, which punches circular blanks that will be struck with coin designs. When the metal sheet is misaligned, or the blanking press feeds incorrectly, blanks may be punched with parts of the edge missing. There are several varieties of clipped planchets, and each is distinguished by its appearance and the shape of the missing portion. Collectors and numismatists categorize clipped planchet errors into four primary types:
- Curved Clips: Curved clips occur when the blanking press, which cuts round blanks from a metal strip, overlaps a previously punched hole. This results in a crescent-shaped or curved missing section, which can vary in size. Some coins exhibit a small portion clipped, while others may be missing a significant chunk. Curved clips are the most commonly found clipped planchet error.
- Straight Clips: Straight clips happen when the blanking press punches a planchet from the edge or end of the metal strip, resulting in a coin with a straight, smooth edge. Straight clip planchet errors are less common than curved clips and are noteworthy to collectors because of their distinct shape.
- Ragged Clips: A ragged clip is the result when a blank is punched from a defective or untrimmed area of the metal strip. The edge of the clip has a rough or irregular look, giving the coin a unique appearance. Ragged clips are often the result of the blank being punched from a strip with a ragged edge, giving the coin a jagged appearance in the clipped area.
- Bowtie Clips: This is a rare variety of clipped planchet in which the coin has two curved clips with one on each side, creating a bowtie-shaped appearance. These errors occur when the blanking press misfeeds multiple times, clipping the coin on opposite sides.
- Incomplete Clips: This error happens when the blanking die fails to fully punch out a blank. If the strip is not moved forward correctly, a new blank is punched out overlapping the incomplete punch, creating a blank with an arching line across the coin’s surface.
Two other variations of clipped planchets include outside corner clips (where the punch overlaps the corner of the metal strip) and inside corner clips, which are sometimes referred to as assay clips. Each type of clipped planchet error has its own characteristics, and they are all caused by variations in how the blanking press interacts with the metal strip.
Identifying a Clipped Planchet
Distinguishing between genuine clipped planchets and damaged coins is crucial for collectors. Although it is simple to spot a coin that is missing metal, confirming that the error occurred during the minting process and not afterward, or post mint, is important. There are two key indicators used to authenticate clipped planchet coins as you visually examine them.
- Blakesley Effect: One of the strong signs of a genuine clipped planchet is the Blakesley Effect. This refers to the rim opposite the clip, which often looks faint, wide, or even absent. This is because of the metal flow that occurs during the minting process, particularly when the clip disrupts the uniformity of the coin’s edge. The Blakesley Effect is not always seen on coins with large clips.
- Stretched Designs: When a clipped planchet is struck, the metal flows differently due to the missing portion. As a result, the design elements near the clip may appear stretched or distorted as the metal tries to fill the die cavity during striking. This metal flow effect is a telltale indicator of genuine mint errors.
Clipped Planchets and Their Value
Clipped planchet error coins can be valuable, although their worth depends on several factors, including the coin’s condition, the size of the clip, and the coin’s overall rarity or market demand. Like many other error coins, larger, visually obvious clips generally command higher prices. Furthermore, the type of clip (curved, straight, ragged, or bowtie) and the coin’s denomination also impact the value of this coin error.
A clipped planchet on a higher-denomination coin, such as a dollar, is typically more valuable than the same error on a lower-denomination coin, like a penny or nickel. Coins in near mint or uncirculated condition with a clear, well-defined clip are the most desirable to collectors.
