Finding Ragged vs Curved Clips: Which is Tougher to Find in the Wild? A Cherry Picker’s Guide

The Thrill of the Hunt: Discovering Clipped Planchet Errors in Circulation

You don’t always need a dealer to find this. Here is what to look for when searching through circulation or bulk lots.

For decades, roll hunters and cherry pickers have known that some of the most exciting finds come not from high-end auctions or specialized dealers, but from the humble circulation finds, bulk lots, estate sales, and junk boxes that most collectors overlook. Among these treasures, clipped planchet errors on Lincoln cents represent a particularly fascinating category that combines historical significance with visual appeal.

Understanding Clipped Planchet Errors

Clipped planchets occur during the minting process when the blank planchet is punched from a metal strip that has already been partially used. The result is a coin missing a portion of its edge, creating three main varieties: curved clips, straight clips, and ragged clips.

The Three Types of Clips

• Curved clips: Created when the punch overlaps the edge of the metal strip, resulting in a smooth, curved missing section
• Straight clips: Formed when the punch overlaps the side of the strip, leaving a straight-edged missing portion
• Ragged clips: The rarest variety, occurring when the punch overlaps a previously punched hole, creating an irregular, ragged edge

Historical Significance and Production Context

These errors primarily occurred during the mid-20th century when minting processes were less automated than today. The examples discussed here, dating from the 1960s and earlier, represent a time when planchet preparation was more prone to human error and mechanical inconsistencies.

Identifying Key Markers: The Blakesley Effect

One of the most reliable indicators of an authentic clipped planchet is the Blakesley effect. This phenomenon occurs because the missing metal section weakens the coin’s structural integrity at that point. When the upset mill (which raises the rim) encounters this weak spot, it cannot properly form the rim, resulting in a corresponding weakness or flattening on the opposite side of the coin.

As one collector noted about their curved clip example: “Both show a Blakesley effect on the opposite rim, however, the effect is only a slight thickening and flattening of the rim opposite the curved clip.” This subtle but crucial detail helps distinguish genuine mint errors from post-mint damage.

Ragged vs. Curved: Which is Tougher to Find?

Based on collector experiences shared in the discussion, ragged clips are indeed much scarcer than curved clips. One collector stated definitively: “Ragged are much scarcer than curved, but I don’t think that they are significantly more valuable.”

Visual Characteristics

Ragged clips display an irregular, torn appearance that immediately distinguishes them from the smooth curves of curved clips. The example shown demonstrates how the ragged edge creates a more dramatic visual impact, with the missing section appearing almost as if the coin was torn rather than cut.

Straight Clips: The Often-Overlooked Variety

Straight clips represent another category worth noting. These errors show distinctive “brassy striations” running in the direction the metal strip was rolled, providing additional authentication markers. One collector found a 1925-D straight-clip in a dealer’s “junk” wheat cent box, purchasing it “for next to nothing” because the dealer thought it was damaged.

Cherry Picking Strategies

The discussion reveals several valuable strategies for finding these errors:

Bulk Lot Hunting

Many collectors have found exceptional errors in bulk lots of “junk” coins. The 1925-D straight-clip mentioned above was discovered in a dealer’s wheat cent accumulation, demonstrating that patience and careful examination of inexpensive lots can yield surprising results.

Recognizing the Blakesley Effect

As one collector admitted: “I thought the ragged clip was just damage until I saw the Blakesley effect.” This admission highlights how understanding key diagnostic features can transform your ability to identify genuine errors.

Timing Your Searches

Another collector shared their experience of pulling both curved and ragged clips from circulation in the late 1960s and early 1970s, suggesting that certain eras may have been more productive for finding mint errors in everyday change.

Market Values and Investment Potential

While ragged clips are rarer than curved clips, their market values don’t always reflect this scarcity dramatically. One collector noted: “Ragged are much scarcer than curved, but I don’t think that they are significantly more valuable.”

Current Market Trends

However, recent eBay sales data suggests changing collector preferences. As one collector observed: “Recently I have seen on eBay that ragged clips are realizing higher prices than simple curved clips. I have seen examples like the 1968 selling in the $15-20 range lately, versus $3-5 for coins like the 1965.”

Factors Affecting Value

• Date and mint mark: Earlier dates and certain mint marks may command premiums
• Size of the clip: Larger missing sections generally increase value
• Visual appeal: The dramatic appearance of ragged clips may drive collector interest
• Authentication markers: Clear Blakesley effects add credibility and value

Authentication and Avoiding Fakes

Several authentication features help distinguish genuine clipped planchets from post-mint damage:

Key Authentication Features

• Blakesley effect: The weakness opposite the clip is nearly impossible to replicate outside the minting process
• Metal flow lines: Genuine clips show characteristic metal flow patterns
• Edge characteristics: The cut edge should show signs of the shearing process, not random damage
• Striations on straight clips: The directional lines visible on straight clips match the rolling direction of the original strip

Where to Find These Treasures Today

Based on collector experiences, several hunting grounds remain productive:

Circulation Finds

While less common than in previous decades, careful examination of pocket change and bank rolls can still yield errors. Focus on pre-1980 coins, as modern minting processes have reduced error rates significantly.

Bulk Lots and Junk Boxes

Dealers’ “junk” boxes and bulk lots of common date wheat cents remain excellent hunting grounds. The 1925-D straight-clip found in a dealer’s accumulation demonstrates that even experienced dealers may miss these errors.

Online Marketplaces

eBay and similar platforms offer opportunities, but require knowledge to avoid misidentified damaged coins. Look for listings with clear photos showing the Blakesley effect and other authentication features.

Local Coin Shops

As one collector discovered, local shops may have errors mixed into their common coin inventories. Building relationships with shop owners can lead to being notified when interesting lots arrive.

Building a Collection

For collectors interested in clipped planchets, several approaches can guide your collecting strategy:

Complete the Set

Many collectors aim to acquire one example of each clip type (curved, straight, ragged) across different denominations and dates.

Focus on Visual Impact

Some collectors prefer the dramatic appearance of larger clips or the irregular beauty of ragged clips, regardless of date or denomination.

Historical Era Specialization

Collecting errors from specific time periods, such as the 1960s when many of these examples originated, can create a cohesive collection with historical context.

Conclusion: The Enduring Appeal of Clipped Planchets

The discussion among collectors reveals that clipped planchet errors, particularly ragged clips, represent an accessible yet fascinating area of numismatics. While ragged clips are indeed tougher to find than curved clips, their relative scarcity hasn’t always translated to dramatically higher values—though market trends suggest this may be changing.

For the dedicated cherry picker, these errors offer several advantages: they’re often found in inexpensive lots, they have clear authentication features like the Blakesley effect, and they provide that thrill of discovery that drives many collectors. Whether you’re sorting through bank rolls from the 1960s or carefully examining a dealer’s junk box, the possibility of finding a ragged clip—the toughest of the three main varieties to locate—keeps the hunt exciting.

As one collector’s experience demonstrates, what appears to be damaged coinage to the untrained eye may actually be a valuable mint error waiting to be discovered. The key is developing the knowledge to recognize these treasures and the patience to search where others aren’t looking. In the world of roll hunting and cherry picking, sometimes the greatest finds come from the most unexpected places.

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