Need some help with a jefferson nickel error

beep

Is this a true mint error? I purchased the coin and found it stashed away in my old wallet recently.
I noticed the coin was larger than a normal nickel and the clip is odd and don't know why.

I can scan the coin at higher res tomorrow but here's what I'm looking at.






Quarter size comparision



Appreciate any help on identifying this coin.
Brian

ABC123

Looks, very much, like a four cent nickel !

LALASD4

A nice real nickel error, can you read the date?

Off center curved clip.

gamr0n

Looks like an off center broadstrike on top of a clipped planchet. That is pretty neat!

beep

<< <i>A nice real nickel error, can you read the date? >>


It's fuzzy as heck, but 1986 maybe? I can do a better scan tomorrow with the date.

Brian

StrikeOutXXX

<< <i>Looks like an off center broadstrike on top of a clipped planchet. That is pretty neat! >>



I agree with the neatness factor - Is it possibly struck on a quarter planchet as well??.

LALASD4

Here is his brother.

beep

No clad layer.

beep

<< <i>Here is his brother.

>>



Neat. So should I submit my coin?

LALASD4

I got mine for around $70 or $80, if the date cannot be seen, it might be a little less. I don't think having it grading would increase its value but it would protect the coin.

errormaven

It's an off-center strike on a nickel planchet with a large curved clip.

beep

<< <i>It's an off-center strike on a nickel planchet with a large curved clip. >>



Cool huh? Just how does this clip happen?

LALASD4

Incomplete planchets: Often, though erroneously, called a "clip," an incomplete planchet results from a mishap in the blanking process. If the planchet strip does not advance far enough after a bank of punches rams through the metal, producing planchets, the punches come down and overlap the holes where the planchets were already punched out. Where the overlapping takes place, there is a curved area that appears to be "missing" from the planchet. If the strip slides to the side too far and the punches overlap the side of the strip, the missing area is straight. If the punches overlap the end of the strip, the missing area is either ragged or straight, depending on whether the end of the strip was trimmed.

The word "clip," commonly used, suggests a piece of the planchet was cut off, which is not the cause of the incomplete planchet. "Clip," when properly used, refers to the ancient process of cutting small pieces of metal from the edges of precious metal coins for the bullion; that is why U.S. gold and silver coins have lettered or reeded edges, to make it more difficult to clip a coin.

An "incomplete planchet planchet" occurs when the punch does not completely punch out a planchet, but leaves a circular groove. If the strip advances improperly, planchets overlapping the incomplete punch will bear a curved groove; the groove remains visible after the coin is struck.

Many incomplete planchet errors have a "signature" known as the Blakesley effect. The area of the rim 180 degrees opposite the "clip" is weak or non-existent since the rim-making process in the upset mill is negated by the "clip." The lack of pressure in the upset mill at the clip results in improper formation of the rim on the opposite side.

errormaven

The mint uses the term "cut-out".

Although technically inaccurate, I prefer the term "clip" over the ponderous, multi-syllabic "incomplete planchet". After all, how are you going to refer to an incomplete clip -- an "incomplete incomplete planchet"? Or how would you refer to overlapping curved clips -- overlapping incomplete planchets? Sound like you're talking about two different coins. How about a triple clip -- a triple incomplete planchet? Awkward.

LALASD4

Agree. That was just the definition from the book. I use clip myself.