Part V. Planchet Errors:

Blanking and Cutting Errors:

Corner clips

Definition: A corner clip occurs when the blanking die slices through one of the four corners of the coin metal
strip (two corners are on the leading edge while two are on the trailing edge).

Every known corner clip assumes the shape of an obtuse angle of about 120 degrees.  This suggests that the ends of the strip are trimmed at an oblique angle, rather than straight across.  This makes sense, as a narrow, pointed end would be easier to feed into the blanking press than a flat end.  The blanking die would then be slicing through the corner that’s positioned farther back.

Alan Herbert refers to corner clips as “outside corner clips”, to distinguish them from “inside corner clips”.  The preferred term for the latter is “assay clip”.

Corner clips are quite rare, as one would imagine.

For expanded treatment concerning clip diagnostics click here.

Below images are a corner clip on a 1999-P Pennsylvania state quarter. Images courtesy Terry Holcomb.