How are planchet flaws viewed by graders?

worldcoinguy

I have a question for the world community that relates to old talers from Europe. Will the major graders such as NGC or PCGS grade coins with planchet flaws? How significant do the flan/planchet flaws need to be for the coin to be rejected?

Case in point - this is a coin offered by a german dealer (this is a link to his picture; I do not own the coin nor have I seen it in person).


Thoughts?

Preussen

Planchet flaws are a naturally occurring part of the minting process of the time, so coins exhibiting them are gradable by the TPG services. In my experience they have not affected the grade of a coin, but depending on the severity, they can affect eye appeal. I suppose a coin with extremely severe flaws might be rejected by a TPG service, but I think it would have to be pretty bad. In the absence of any other problems, the coin in your pic should be accepted for grading by a TPG service. - Preussen

Edited to add pics of an MS63 1784 Prussian Thaler with minor planchet flaws and adjustment marks.

JamminJ

Minor planchet flaws are overlooked as far as the grade goes.
Major flaws cause the coin to be slabbed as a "mint error".
Medium flaws result in a bodybag marked "planchet flaw".

ajaan

I have a Canadian cent that has a minor planchet flaw that was bodybagged by NGC for 'planchet flaw'.

Kitz

I heard that they will also body bag a coin with a planchet flaw if that flaw could damage the coin if it is slabbed. So by putting the coin into the holder it may case it to flake up, a piece to fall off, the coin to bend, or even break in half it will not be slabbed. This is what I have been told.

MadMarty

<< <i>Minor planchet flaws are overlooked as far as the grade goes.
Major flaws cause the coin to be slabbed as a "mint error".
Medium flaws result in a bodybag marked "planchet flaw". >>

worldcoinguy

Thanks all - very informative!

shirohniichan

Minor planchet flaws are overlooked as far as the grade goes.
Major flaws cause the coin to be slabbed as a "mint error".
Medium flaws result in a bodybag marked "planchet flaw".


I don't understand why medium flaws are bagged. If it is the way the coin was made and a small piece has already fallen off, why not slab it? Do PCGS and NGC not want to get into "net grading" by slabbing an MS63 piece with a planchet flaw as "AU55" because of the flaw?

JamminJ

I think the issue is with medium flaws there's no way to inform a sight unseen buyer that the coin has a moderately large distraction. They don't have a "plan flaw" designation.

Since big flaws become mint errors a buyer knows what he's getting into. For small flaws most folks wont care as long as the coin is "as struck".

MacCrimmon

FWIW, I've had PCGS grade/certify a small Swiss bronze as MS66RD. The coin had a very small, thin flan crack in the center reverse, but it was intact and completely original.

bj1648

<< <i>Minor planchet flaws are overlooked as far as the grade goes.
Major flaws cause the coin to be slabbed as a "mint error".
Medium flaws result in a bodybag marked "planchet flaw". >>

ajaan

Here's the Canadian cent that was BBed by NGC. As you can see, the planchet flaw isn't that bad. I think it all depends on the grader and how he feels that day.