Cracked planchet

Cracked planchets are a common type of coin error that occurs due to impurities in the alloy, which weaken the entire length of the planchet. Poorly mixed alloys and incorrect annealing of the non-minted planchet can also contribute to this defect.

A planchet is considered to be cracked when it has developed a crack before, during, or after minting. In the case of cracks that form before minting, the edge and neighboring ridges often exhibit slight anomalies, while those that occur during or after minting can result in a broken coin.

The crack always develops along the vertical plane or a strongly oblique plane, starting from the edge and extending in the direction of the opposite side of the edge. This defect occurs on both sides of the coin, and if you notice a crack on only one side, it is most likely a surface lamination crack.

Typically, a planchet breaks into two distinct sections after the coin has entered circulation, although this is not always the case. To determine if a coin has a cracked planchet, examine the edge and neighboring ridges for anomalies, and check both sides for any cracks that extend from the edge.