Coin and Paper Money Collecting/split coin

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Expert: - 11/28/2009


Question
My granddaughter found a Jefferson nickel 1994 that appears to have been struck from metal that had a seam in the blank.  I suppose it could have split afterwards.  I cannot see where anyone has struck it or bent it in a vise.  The split comes in from the side and follows the bottom of the montecello building abount 1/3 way in.  The crack is too clean and too narrow to have cut by a saw and there are no hammer marks or chisel marks.  It's in fine condition.  Your thoughts?

Answer
Hi Darrell:

It is hard to give you a precise answer without a photo or actually examining the coin. It sounds like you may have a coin with an error called a de-laminated planchet. Your description suggests that the planchet may have had a crack in it prior to being struck. This faulty planchet was the result of the alloys not mixing properly, and upon cooling in the ingot stage, air bubbles were trapped. The ingot is reduced in thickness into a long sheet, which is rolled into the final size of the planchet stock, then blanked out into planchets for coin striking. The pressure of the striking caused the planchet to crack and/or delaminate further.

Your error would have a retail value of around $3 to $5 to an interested error collector. You may want to check Ebay listings under US coins in the error category to see what these errors are going for. You may also want to check out these links on error coin values:
http://www.coinsite.com/html/USErrorPrices.asp
http://www.minterrornews.com/priceguide.html

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.

Coin and Paper Money Collecting

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Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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