Part V. Planchet Errors:

Blanking and Cutting Errors:

Assay clips

Definition: An assay clip appears on a coin as a triangular notch, similar to a pizza that’s had a slice removed.  The triangular notch represents where a piece of metal was snipped from the coin metal strip (or a blank or a planchet) to test its composition and physical properties.

Assay clips are very rare and often difficult to distinguish from accidental forms of pre-strike damage.  They are also sometimes confused with angular “ragged clips” and “ragged notches”.  The latter are natural defects that form in the coin metal strip.