Clipped Planchets Explained: How to Identify This Mint Error and Tell It From Damage
- Charles Thompson
- Aug 14
- 8 min read
Clipped Planchets Explained: How to Identify This Mint Error and Tell It From Damage
Have you ever found a coin with a chunk missing from the edge and wondered, “Is this a valuable Mint error, or did somebody just damage this coin?”
That is exactly the question we’re going to answer.
A clipped planchet is one of the more interesting errors you can find while searching pocket change, coin rolls, collections, and jars of old coins. The basic idea is simple: part of the planchet was missing before the coin was struck.
But there’s a catch.
A coin can also end up with part of its edge missing because someone damaged it after it left the Mint. That means simply seeing a curved or straight section missing from a coin does not automatically make it a genuine clipped planchet.
In this guide, we’ll look at what a planchet is, how clipped planchets happen, the different types of clips, how to identify a genuine Mint-made clip, what the Blakesley Effect is, and how to distinguish a clipped planchet from post-Mint damage.
Prefer to watch instead?
I cover clipped planchets in detail in Episode 5 of my Coin Errors & Varieties Explained series, including my two genuine clipped planchets and a cent that was damaged with pliers.
What Is a Planchet?
Before we can understand a clipped planchet, we need to understand what a planchet actually is.
A planchet is essentially the metal disc that eventually becomes a coin.
The U.S. Mint begins with large sheets or strips of metal. These are fed through machinery that punches individual discs, or blanks, out of the metal.
Those metal discs go through additional processing before eventually being fed into a coining press.
Inside the coining press, the planchet is struck between the obverse and reverse dies.
The dies impress the design onto the metal, and the planchet becomes a finished coin.
Normally, that planchet is a nice, complete circle.
But sometimes something goes wrong during the process.
And that’s where clipped planchets come in.
How Does a Clipped Planchet Happen?
Imagine a large strip of metal being fed through a blanking press.
The press punches a circular disc out of the strip.
The metal strip moves forward, and another disc is punched out.
The Mint wants these punches positioned efficiently so as little metal as possible is wasted.
But if the metal strip isn’t fed forward properly, or there is another problem during the blanking process, a punch can overlap an area where metal has already been removed.
The result is a planchet that isn’t completely round.
Instead, part of the edge is missing.
That incomplete planchet can then continue through the minting process and eventually be struck into a coin.
The important part is this:
The missing metal was already gone when the coin was struck.
That’s what makes it a Mint error rather than post-Mint damage.
What Do Clipped Planchets Look Like?
Clipped planchets can look very different from one another.
The missing section can be small or large, straight or curved, smooth or irregular.
Some of the most common types include straight clips, curved clips, and ragged clips.
Straight Clips
A straight clip occurs when the missing section of the planchet follows a relatively straight edge.
This can happen when the blanking punch overlaps the edge of the metal strip.
One thing to remember is that a straight edge does not automatically mean someone cut the coin.
A genuine Mint-made clipped planchet can have a very straight-looking clip.
The important thing is to examine the characteristics of the coin rather than judging it based solely on the shape of the missing section.
Curved Clips
Curved clips are probably the type most people picture when they hear the term “clipped planchet.”
A portion of the circular planchet is missing, leaving behind a smooth, curved section.
These clips can range from very small:
to extremely large:
The size of the clip can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of the coin.
Ragged Clips
Not every clipped planchet has a perfectly smooth edge.
Some have a much more irregular or ragged appearance.
These can result from problems involving the metal strip or blanking process.
Again, the appearance of the edge is only one part of the story.
You need to examine the entire coin to determine whether the missing metal is consistent with a genuine Mint error.
Multiple Clips
Sometimes a planchet can have more than one clip.
You might find a coin with one missing section on one side and another missing section somewhere else.
These multiple clips can be particularly interesting to collectors because they are unusual and visually dramatic.
When searching coins, these are the kinds of pieces that can make you stop and think:
“Wait…what happened to this coin?”
Does the Size of the Clip Matter?
Clipped planchets can have very small clips or extremely large clips.
A tiny portion of the edge might be missing, while another coin could have a significant percentage of the planchet missing.
A dramatic clip can certainly make a coin more interesting to collectors.
However, size alone doesn’t determine value.
Other factors can include:
Date and denomination
Condition of the coin
Size of the clip
Shape and location of the clip
Whether the coin has multiple clips
Overall eye appeal
Collector demand
So don’t automatically assume a tiny clip is worthless.
But don’t assume that a large clip is automatically worth hundreds or thousands of dollars either.
Each coin needs to be evaluated individually.
How Can You Tell if a Clipped Planchet Is Genuine?
This is probably the most important part of identifying a clipped planchet.
Anyone can take a normal coin and damage it.
Someone could use pliers, cutters, a grinder, or another tool to remove part of the edge.
That doesn’t make the coin a Mint error.
The question we need to answer is:
Was the metal missing before the coin was struck, or was it removed afterward?
There are several things you can examine.
1. Examine the Clipped Edge
Start by looking closely at the area where the metal is missing.
A genuine clipped planchet should have characteristics consistent with the planchet being incomplete before it entered the coining press.
Post-Mint damage may show obvious evidence of tools being used.
Look for:
Tool marks
Scratches
Gouges
Crushing
Bending
Distorted metal
Other evidence of physical damage
A coin that looks like someone attacked it with a pair of pliers deserves serious skepticism.
2. Look at the Metal Flow
Another important clue is metal flow.
When a planchet is struck between the dies, the metal moves and flows outward as the dies impress the design.
If part of the planchet was already missing when the coin was struck, the remaining metal can flow differently around that missing area.
This can leave evidence that the clip existed before the strike.
That’s why you shouldn’t only examine the missing section itself.
Look closely at the surrounding design and rim.
The rest of the coin may contain clues about when the damage occurred.
3. Look for the Blakesley Effect
One of the most interesting characteristics associated with clipped planchets is something called the Blakesley Effect.
The basic concept is fairly simple.
When part of the planchet is missing, the metal can flow differently during the striking process. This can sometimes cause weakness in the rim or design elements on the opposite side of the coin from the clip.
For example, if the clip is located here:
you may find weakness directly across from it.
That weakness is known as the Blakesley Effect.
However, there is an important point to remember:
Not every genuine clipped planchet will have an obvious Blakesley Effect.
The size and location of the clip, the coin’s design, the strength of the strike, and other factors can affect whether the effect is visible.
Therefore, the Blakesley Effect should be considered supporting evidence—not a requirement for a clipped planchet to be genuine.
In other words:
No visible Blakesley Effect does not automatically mean the coin is fake.
Here is a simple comparison:
Genuine Clipped Planchet | Post-Mint Damage |
Metal missing before striking | Damage occurred after striking |
Can show evidence of metal flow | May show tool marks |
May have a Blakesley Effect | No genuine pre-strike characteristics |
Clip can be straight, curved, or irregular | Shape depends on how the coin was damaged |
Considered a Mint error | Considered damaged |
The biggest question to ask is:
Does the coin show evidence that the metal was missing before the coin was struck?
That’s the key.
What Are Clipped Planchets Worth?
This is where things get a little more complicated.
There isn’t a single value for clipped planchets.
Some examples may sell for relatively modest amounts, while more dramatic examples can bring considerably more.
The value depends on the specific coin and the characteristics of the error.
When researching values, I like to look at actual sold examples rather than simply looking at what people are asking for their coins.
Don’t Confuse an Asking Price With a Sold Price
This is an important tip whenever you’re researching coins online.
Someone can list a coin on eBay for $5,000.
That doesn’t mean the coin is worth $5,000.
When researching the value of an error coin, try to find completed or sold listings whenever possible.
A sold listing gives you a much better idea of what someone actually paid.
Asking prices tell you what a seller wants.
Sold prices tell you what a buyer was actually willing to pay.
What Should You Do If You Find a Possible Clipped Planchet?
If you’re searching your pocket change, coin rolls, jars, or collection and find a coin with a piece missing from the edge, don’t immediately assume you’ve found a valuable Mint error.
Take a closer look.
Check the edge.
Does it look like naturally missing metal, or does it show obvious tool marks?
Look at the surrounding design.
Does the coin show characteristics consistent with being struck after the metal was already missing?
Look for metal flow.
Does the metal around the clip behave the way you’d expect from a planchet that was struck with a section missing?
Check the opposite side.
Look for possible weakness associated with the Blakesley Effect—but remember that its absence doesn’t automatically disqualify the coin.
Compare it with known examples.
The more genuine errors you examine, the better you’ll become at recognizing them.
And if you’re still unsure, consider showing the coin to a reputable coin dealer or professional error specialist.
For a potentially valuable coin, professional authentication may also be worth considering.
Don’t Try to Make Your Own Error!
One final warning:
Don’t damage your good coins trying to recreate a clipped planchet.
If you want to demonstrate what pliers or other tools can do to a coin, use a coin that is already damaged or has no collector value.
My pliers-damaged cent is useful for teaching because it gives me a real-world comparison.
But please don’t take a perfectly good coin and turn it into an experiment!
Final Thoughts
Clipped planchets are fascinating because they give us a glimpse into the manufacturing process behind our coins.
A coin with a piece missing might look like simple damage at first.
But when the characteristics show that the metal was already missing before the coin was struck, you’ve got something very different.
You’ve potentially got a genuine Mint error.
Remember the key points:
A planchet is the metal disc that becomes a coin.
A clipped planchet occurs when part of that planchet is missing before striking.
Clips can be straight, curved, ragged, small, large, or even multiple.
The shape of the clip alone does not prove authenticity.
Look for evidence of metal flow and pre-strike characteristics.
The Blakesley Effect can be useful supporting evidence.
Not every genuine clipped planchet will have a visible Blakesley Effect.
Tool marks, crushing, bending, and other evidence of post-Mint damage can indicate that someone altered the coin.
Always research sold prices, not just asking prices, when determining potential value.
And most importantly…
Keep checking your change!
You never know what might be hiding in a coin that looks damaged at first glance.
It might just be damaged.
Or…
it might have been born that way at the Mint.
Want to Learn More About Coin Errors?
This article is part of my Coin Errors & Varieties Explained series, where I break down different U.S. coin errors and varieties and explain what to look for when you’re searching your own coins.
Be sure to check out the other episodes covering:
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