At first glance this Lincoln cent appears to be a brockage (struck by capped die) error but the physical evidence points to a condition known as planchet split after strike. The reverse "tails" side of the coin has a normal memorial design. The obverse "heads" side has a blurred mirror image of the reverse design instead of the proper obverse design. The primary evidence of planchet split after strike is thickness and weight. This coin is approximately one-half the thickness of a normal cent. Photo #3 shows this coin on the left and a normal cent on the right. This coin weighs approximately 1.5 grams vs. the standard of 2.5 grams for copper plated zinc cents and 3.1 grams for pre-1982 95% copper cents. In summary, this coin originated as an internally flawed 95% copper planchet that was struck normally by both dies. The striking force fractured the coin which then split in half upon ejection from the press or at a subsequent process step. The exposed split surface shows no evidence of zinc material, so we may conclude that the original planchet was pre-1982 95% copper. The mating half of this coin is unaccounted for and we are left with a modern half-cent!
Are these planchette s worth anything?
ReplyDeleteYes they are worth a premium to certain collectors. Mated pairs (both halves of the split planchet) are preferred.
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