Clipped Planchet - Errors and varieties of canadian coins - Coins and Canada

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Clipped planchet - Errors and varieties

Clipped planchet - 1 cent 1964

To create the blanks, uncoiling metal strips are fed through straightening machines and the blanking press. These metal strips weight around 1,700 lbs and are sometimes made inside the Royal Canadian Mint, but mostly imported. For each blanking press (3), 400 to 600 punches can be made per minute. Each punch produces 24 blanks.

During the punching process, several issues might cause a clipped planchet error including the misalignment, the speed or the slippery of the metal strip, causing the punches to partly overlap the strip ends or holes.

Once created by the blanking presses, the blanks pass through a vibrating screen with holes just large enough to keep only those that are completely round and with a perfect diameter. Normally, the incomplete blanks fall under the vibrating mat and will subsequently be melted. But some of the defective blanks manage to made it, are struck and then release in circulation.

Types of clipped planchet

Regular curved clip

Regular curved clipped planchet

This is the most common clip and it occurs when a blanking die (punch) overlaps a previously-punched hole on the metal strip.

Example: 2 dollars 2005 - Regular curved clipped planchet

A curved clipped planchet with a cut of 70% and more is called Crescent Clip.


Double curved clip

Double curved clip

It occurs when a blanking die (punch) overlaps two holes (previously-punched) on the metal strip.

Example: 1 cent 2000 - Double curved clip

A double curved clipped planchet with two cuts in opposite directions is called Bowtie Clip.


Triple curved clip

Triple curved clip

It occurs when a blanking die (punch) overlaps three holes (previously-punched) on the metal strip.

Example: 25 cents 1979 - Triple curved clip


Straight clip

Straight clip

It occurs when a blanking die (punch) fall on the edge (mostly caused by a misalignment of the strip), the beginning or the end of the metal strip. The texture of the edge of the blank may vary depending on the metal strip used.

Example: 1 cent 1964 - Straight clip


Ragged clip

Ragged clip

Like the straight clip, it occurs when a blanking die (punch) fall on an irregular edge, the beginning or the end of the metal strip. Ragged clips may be confused with other planchet errors.


Corner clip

Corner clip

It occurs when a blanking die (punch) fall on the two edges of the metal strip.


Elliptical clip

Example: 1 cent 1980 - Elliptical clip


Combinations of simple/double/triple/straight/ragged/corner clips exist.

Blakesley effect

After the vibrating screen, the blanks go through the rimming press which apply pressure on their edges with a revolving wheel and a stationary groove. This rimming operation make the blanks a little smaller to allow them to drop by gravity into the collar before being struck.

When a clipped blank enter the rimming press, the pressure on the opposite side of the clip isn't perfect creating a defective rim. This is called the Blakesley effect, in honor of its discoverer. If the cut is too small or on a double curved clip with two cuts in opposite directions, the Blakesley effect can't be found like on this 1 cent 2000.

Near the edge, the legend or part of the design (often beads or denticles) of a clipped coins is elongated due to the uneven pressure when struck. Normally the collar used in the striking process have the role to contain the overflow of the metal. On a clipped blank, because the interior of the cut doesn't touch the collar, the design is elongated when struck near the clip.

The counterfeit of clipped planchet errors exists. The following can help to differentiate between a clip coming out of the Royal Canadian Mint and a counterfeit one:

  • Blakesley effect
  • Inside of the cut
  • Elongated design
  • Weak strike near the clip

How to calculate the percentage of a clip

How to calculate the percentage of a clip

To calculate the percentage, it is necessary to measure the missing part in relation to the diameter of the clipped coin. A/(A+B) = %.

List of hours, degrees and percentages

Clipped planchet values

The value is based on the percentage, date of the coin, type of the clip, grade and denomination. There are mostly 1-cent clipped coins out there, but this error can be found on all denominations. Here are some prices realized at auctions:

  • $177.00 CAD - 25 cents 1974 CCCS MS-64 - Double curved clip (5% et 10%)
  • $142.80 CAD - 1 dollar 1986 NGC MS-62 - Regular curved clip (5%)
  • $129.25 CAD - 1 cent 1980 ANACS MS-62 Red and Brown - Elliptical clip
  • $89.25 CAD - 5 cents 1978 NGC MS-66 - Double curved clip (5% et 10%)
  • $75.50 CAD - 1 cent 1964 NGC MS-65 Brown - Ragged clip
  • $64.90 CAD - 1 cent 1978 Double 8 CCCS MS-64 Red - Regular curved clip (15%)
  • $63.25 CAD - 1 cent 1978 ICG MS-63 Red and Brown - Ragged clip
  • $47.20 CAD - 1 dollar 1988 CCCS VF-30 - Ragged clip
  • $41.30 CAD - 5 cents 1947 CCCS F-12 - Ragged clip
  • $41.30 CAD - 1 cent 1975 CCCS MS-63 Red and Brown - Double curved clip (5% et 10%)
  • $23.60 CAD - 1 cent 1977 CCCS AU-50 - Regular curved clip (10%)

On Canadian coins, regular clip (10% or less) on 1 cent 1964 to 1980 can be easily found and uncertified examples of ciculated ones are sold for around $5.00 CAD.

More examples of clipped planchet errors

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