7.1 Clips
A clipped planchet is common term for an incomplete planchet. The clip occurs when the process of cutting blanks from a strip of metal causes two cut-outs to overlap with each other,
resulting in the second planchet being an incomplete disk with a curved piece missing. A straight clip occurs when a cut-out overlaps the straight edge of the metal strip, causing the
planchet to be incomplete with the straight edge of the strip passing within the blank.
Major clips will result in a coin with an obvious void on the edge. The void results in either a curved or straight clip on one side of the coin. The void from a minor clip can get
nearly filled in by the striking process. During striking, the planchet is under great pressure from the dies and the metal flows to fill as much of the space between the dies as possible.
A minor clip may appear as nothing more than a small void on the raised rim.
Clipped twenty-cent pieces are fairly rare with major clips being excessively rare. Below is an 1875-CC that exhibits a minor clip. Minor clips like the one below often go unnoticed
as an error and are frequently mistaken for a damaged coin.
Minor clipped 1875-CC
