1997-P Nickel, Incomplete Clip?

CRHer700

I found this nickel yesterday in a bank box and am wondering if anyone has a real term for the error that caused it. Before you say that it is not an error, I want to say that I am 99% sure that it is some sort of mint error related to a clip. It appears that there is a tiny rim clip or weird Blakseys affect at around 8 o’clock on the obverse, but you can’t see it except for edge on, and on the reverse it appears like a blakseys affect. If you were to perfectly bisect the nickel starting at the tiny clip and going to the other side of the nickel you see what originally caught my eye, a large area that seems to be some sort of incomplete clip. I included pics of both edges to show you that I do not believe it to be a file job. The green circle is the same spot on both the obverse and the reverse. Any comments are helpful.

FredWeinberg

Sorry – that’s not an incomplete clip or any type of US mint planchet defect.
It’s post minting damage – what you see on the reverse is the result of the damage to the obverse rim area – there’s no Blakesley effect opposite it.

MWallace

If it is not PMD, the lettering around the area will show metal flow toward the area.

CRHer700

It certainly is the weirdest PMD that I have ever seen.

jmlanzaf

@CRHer700 said:
It certainly is the weirdest PMD that I have ever seen.

How so?

CRHer700

@jmlanzaf said:

@CRHer700 said:
It certainly is the weirdest PMD that I have ever seen.

How so?

I have seen a lot of PMD. This does not look like it to me. That is what I see, not necessarily what you see. I am not sure how to describe what I am thinking, but it looks like something that came from the mint when you look at it in person, and it doesn't look like it has been hit, filed, or anything else. I'm not sure.

seanq

Would need better pictures of the obverse but it may be a defective planchet. I would not call it a clip since it was not part of the planchet making process, but more like a lamination or some other damage. The weak reverse details opposite the defect, along with the consistent rim diameter, have me thinking the metal was missing prior to the strike. You would not see Blakesley effect since the diameter of the planchet wasn't affected, just the thickness.

Sean Reynolds

FredWeinberg

Sean, I hear what you’re saying, but I based my comments on what I can see in the photos and I don’t see any metal flow on the obverse area in question.

In-hand, another person could see something different of course.

CRHer700

@seanq said:
Would need better pictures of the obverse but it may be a defective planchet. I would not call it a clip since it was not part of the planchet making process, but more like a lamination or some other damage. The weak reverse details opposite the defect, along with the consistent rim diameter, have me thinking the metal was missing prior to the strike. You would not see Blakesley effect since the diameter of the planchet wasn't affected, just the thickness.

Sean Reynolds

That seems like at lest a possibility, as it doesn't really look like a clip. What could have caused metal to be removed before striking though?

jacrispies

The lack of metal flow on the opposite side, if verified with better photos or in-hand inspection, pretty much guarantees that the opposite damage was caused pre striking. But for now it looks somewhat pinched, which would damage both sides and cause the flat appearance.

CRHer700

@jacrispies said:
The lack of metal flow on the opposite side, if verified with better photos or in-hand inspection, pretty much guarantees that the opposite damage was caused pre striking. But for now it looks somewhat pinched, which would damage both sides and cause the flat appearance.

Here are some better pictures.
Obverse:

Reverse:

Edge with obverse facing up:

Edge at a slant.