PART I. Die Subtypes:

Mid-year Design Modifications:

1913 “Buffalo ” Nickel; Type I and Type II

Definition: The Type I “Buffalo” nickel had the words FIVE CENTS placed on the side of the mound upon which the buffalo stands. The Type II “Buffalo” nickel had the mound partially cut away, creating an exergue for the words FIVE CENTS.

TYPE I

TYPE II

The original version of the Indian Head nickel was created by James Fraser and lasted only a few months into the year 1913. The design was flawed because the words FIVE CENTS wore away quickly due to their elevated placement.

Charles Barber, who was the chief engraver at the U. S. Mint, cut away the  lower part of the mound and created an exergue where the words FIVE CENTS would be better protected from circulation wear. Barber also smoothed out much of the detail in the Indian’s portrait and the bison’s hide.

PART I. Die Subtypes

Mid-Year Design Modifications:

1909 Lincoln cent; with and without designer’s

initials (V.D.B.)

Definition: In 1909, the familiar Indian Head cent (1859-1909) was replaced by the new Lincoln cent designed by Victor D. Brenner. This new cent was released on August 2^nd, 1909 by the U. S. Mint. Immediately the public took exception to the designer’s initials “V.D.B.” on the reverse of the coin, even though the initials of Longacre, Morgan, and Augustus Saint-Gaudens had previously appeared on other denominations (Indian Head cent, silver dollar, and $20.00 gold piece).

On August 5^th, 1909 Treasury Secretary MacVeagh ordered production of the Lincoln cent suspended. Assistant Treasury Secretary Eliot Norton met with the Mint’s chief engraver Charles Barber and ordered that the coins be struck without Brenner’s initials.  Even before new dies were prepared, a few old dies had the designer’s initials removed by crude tooling, the signs of which are quite obvious.  Coins struck by these dies are highly sought-after.

After a small delay, on August 12^th, 1909, the Lincoln cent was again struck at both the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints, but this time without Brenner’s initials on the reverse of the coin. During the time that the Lincoln cent was being struck with reverse dies bearing the designer’ initials, a total of 27,995,000 were coined by Philadelphia mint and 484,000 by the San Francisco mint.

**** CAUTION ****

The 1909-S V.D.B Lincoln cent is one of the most heavily counterfeited of all coins. Randy Campbell, who is the head grader at Independent Coin Graders, has seen a rather large influx of counterfeit 1909-S V.D.B. coins presented to him for grading at coin shows he appears at. Unfortunately, Campbell has also encountered an even larger amount
of counterfeit 1909-S Indian Head cents.

Use extreme caution when buying 1909-S V.D.B cents, key or semi-key coins that have not been authenticated by a reputable grading company or attributer.

All images are courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

PART I. Die Subtypes:

Mid-year Design Modifications:

1883 Liberty Head Nickel; with and without the word

“CENTS”

Definition: After 17 years, the Shield nickel (1866 to 1883) was changed to the Liberty Head type nickel design by Charles Barber. The design for the new nickel can be seen below in the first set of images.  This new nickel was released to the public on February 1^st, 1883.

Almost immediately a problem arose with the new design. The omission of the word “CENTS” on the reverse led some unscrupulous persons to add reeding to the coin and then plate the coin in gold. It was then passed off to the unwary as a $5.00 gold piece, which had a similar diameter (21.6 mm) to that of the nickel (21.2 mm).

These altered nickels became known as “Racketeer” nickels.  Whether Barber intentionally omitted the word cents (following the design of the nickel three cent piece which was still in production in 1883) or simply forgot to add that word to the reverse design is unknown. However, the production of the new nickel was halted and Barber re-designed the reverse, this time including the word cents.

After a short delay in production, the Liberty Head nickel was again re-introduced to the public on June 26^th, 1883. This design change caused the 1883 Liberty Head nickel without the word cents to be hoarded by the public, which thought that the government might recall that particular coin.

The change of design can be seen as an addition of the word CENTS below the bow, the Roman numeral V becoming smaller and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM being relocated to an area above the wreath.

There seems to be little similarity between the designs of the Liberty Head nickel and the 5 dollar gold piece (the latter shown above). However, as mentioned before, the critical similarity may have been the similar diameters.

*** CAUTION ***

True “Racketeers” nickels are in high demand. These coins should be of high grade and always reeded. Beware of reproductions of the “Racketeer” nickel, which are normally found in low to very low grades and with smooth edges (not reeded).

The above image shows a “Racketeers” nickel.

Images are courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

PART IV. Die Errors:

Die Clashes:

Mule Clash Errors:

1864 2c reverse die clashed with Indian cent obverse die

Definition: A mule die clash occurs when dies from different denominations clash together.

The reverse die that struck this 1864 2-cent piece clashed with the obverse die of an Indian Head cent some time before installation.  All mule clashes are considered to have been intentionally produced. A possible explanation for the three mule clashes found on 1857 Flying Eagle cents was provided by Rick Snow. It can be consulted HERE.

The image to the left shows the outline of Liberty’s head on the reverse of the 2 cent piece. The image to the right compares the profile of the Indian to the clash marks seen on the reverse of the 2 cent piece. It should be noted that the clash marks are in the medallic position and not in the normal coin orientation.

This example was discovered undiagnosed on eBay by John D. Call.

Images are courtesy of John D. Call,  eBay seller “capped-bust-deals.”

PART IV. Die Errors:

Die Clashes:

Mule Die Clashes:

1857 Flying Eagle cent obverse clashed with an 1857 $20.00 Liberty Double Eagle obverse

Definition: A mule die clash occurs when dies from different denominations clash together.

In this clashing of dies, the obverse of the 1857 Flying Eagle cent has been clashed with the obverse of the 1857 Liberty Double Eagle.

For more information concerning this die clash CLICK HERE

PART IV. Die Errors:

Die Clashes:

Mule Die Clashes:

1857 Flying Eagle cent obverse clashed with a 1857

Seated Liberty half dollar obverse

Definition: A mule die clash occurs when dies from different denominations clash together.

The more pronounced clash mark is the line from Liberty’s arm passing through the word AMERICA.

For more information concerning this unusual die clash  CLICK HERE.

Part I. Die Subtypes:

Design Execution Error:

1817 Large Cent with 15 stars on the Obverse

Definition: The 1817 Large Cent was punched with both 13 and 15 stars on the obverse. This was a design execution error. The die setter  inadvertently punched in 15 stars instead of 13 stars.

One variation of the 1817 Large Cent has 15 stars (image on right) instead of the normal 13 stars (image on left).

Part V. Planchet Errors:

Blanking and Cutting Errors:

Straight clips

Definition: A straight clip is thought to result when a blanking die (punch) slices through the leading or trailing end of the coin metal strip.  This pre-supposes that the ends were trimmed prior to the coil being fed into the blanking press.

Another possibility is the blanking die slicing through one side of a strip that is too narrow.  This situation might arise if the splitter, which divides the original wide strip into narrower slips, is not positioned right in the middle of the coil.

A small percentage of straight clips mark the termination of a planchet taper.  This may be where the rollers squeezed the leading or trailing end of the strip down to an abnormally thin gauge.

The edge texture of a straight clip is highly variable.  It can be smooth, rough, irregular, or serrated in some fashion.  This probably reflects a variety of machines employed for the task — shears, saws, guillotines are three possibilities.

A straight clip appears on a coin as a straight edge.  Not all straight edges are straight clips, however.  They are sometimes confused with chain strikes, broken planchet and broken coin errors, and various forms of pre-strike damage.  When a straight-clipped planchet is struck out of collar, the straight edge often bows out due to the pressure of the strike and attendant expansion of the coin.  These secondarily convex straight clips have been mistaken for elliptical clips.

For expanded treatment concerning clip diagnostics click here.

Depicted below is a 10 nuevos pesos Mexican bi-metallic with an extremely rare straight clip of the outer ring. This coin has also been struck off-center.      Below is a 2001-P Jefferson nickel with a combination curve and straight clip. Image courtesy Ynes Zavala     The below sequence of images illustrate metal flow and the taper and fadeout of the design rim. This is what we would expect to see when dealing with authentic straight clips. Top images include both faces of a Jefferson nickel and Lincoln wheat ear cent. Illustration courtesy of Jason Cuvelier     The illustration below shows the overlapping punches on the coin metal strip and what hypothetically could happen if the punches (red arrows) went over the leading or back edge of the metal strip; if the strip was not cut straight; if the strip was too narrow; or if the strip was somehow fed into the blanking press at an angle. All would result in some configuration of a straight clip as shown in green Illustration courtesy of Jason Cuvelier

Part V. Planchet Errors:

Blanking and Cutting Errors:

Ragged clips

Definition: A coin with a ragged clip has its circular outline interrupted by a very irregular edge.  Ragged clips are traditionally thought to be derived from the unfinished leading or trailing end of the coin metal strip.  While these ends are supposed to be trimmed, this step can be accidentally (or intentionally) skipped.

While ragged clips are sometimes referred to as “end of sheet” or “end of strip” clips, this same area is also a likely source for straight clips (see Straight Clip).  Therefore the term “ragged clip” is preferred.

Ragged clips can also be derived from the middle of the strip.  As the strip is rolled out, ragged fissures sometimes develop.  If a blanking die slices through such a fissure, the resulting blank will have a ragged clip indistinguishable from one derived from the ends of the strip.

The shape of a ragged clip is highly variable.  Many are straight, some form “ragged notches” and some turn into “ragged fissures”.

The edge texture of a ragged clip is invariably rough and shows some graininess.

Ragged clips are sometimes confused with broken coin and broken planchet errors.

For expanded treatment concerning clip diagnostics click here.

The three images below are a 1985 Indian 25 paise struck off-center with a ragged clip planchet. The lower image is an oblique angle of the grainy edge of the ragged clip.

Part V. Planchet Errors:

Blanking and Cutting Errors:

Curved clips

Definition:  A curved clip is generated when a punch (blanking die) overlaps a previously-punched hole in the coin metal strip.  The resulting blank ends up with a concave deficit.  It is believed that a failure  for the coin metal strip to advance properly through the blanking press is the root cause of this planchet error.

Multiple curved clips and overlapping curved clips do occur.

Some prefer the term “incomplete planchet” for this error, but we do not.  “Incomplete planchet” is non-specific and awkward to use.  Saying that a coin was struck on a “curved incomplete planchet” or a “double curved incomplete planchet” creates more headaches than it solves.

Five diagnostics for genuine curved clips are:

1. The pole opposite the clip often shows a weak or absent rim. This is the “Blakesley” effect.

  Special Note: The “Blakesley” effect is not always seen on coins with authentic curved clips which are LARGE.

2. Design elements bordering the clip often show metal flow — a smearing and stretching out of the design.

3. The exposed edge of the clip will usually show a “belly line” or “breakaway zone”. Half of the exposed edge (upper or lower half) will be grainy and the other half smooth.

4. The rim should fade out and taper toward the clip.

5. Reversal of position of exposed copper core. This pertains only to curved and elliptical clips in clad issues. In a clad coin, the copper core is asymmetrically exposed along the edge. The position of the exposed copper core “flips” when you transition from a normal edge to the clipped edge. The reason is simple: the normal edge represents the edge of the blank, while the clipped edge represents the edge of the hole.

For expanded treatment concerning clip diagnostics click here.

Below is a bicentennial quarter. This specimen displays all five diagnostics for an authentic curved clip on a clad coin. Note the position of the exposed copper core along the edge. The center image illustrates how the core position “flips” from a normal edge and transitions to the clipped edge.