BoneHeads Collection of Blanks and Planchets

Set Description
These Blanks and Planchets are classified as Mint Errors. This type of error is more of a Mint Process Error than a Mint Manufactured Error. It is very difficult to stop the release of these Blanks and Planchets considering the millions of coins that are made each day.

Originally I setup this collection with each type of Blank and Planchet having its own individual slot. Over time I found out that the viewers had a difficult time trying to compare each Blank with its corresponding Planchet. So now, I have grouped the Blanks with their appropriate Planchet. This set contains 25 different Planchet slots and has 10 Type One Blanks and 6 Type Two Blanks which are pictured with their respective Planchet.

Below you will see some of the different Blanks and Planchets that have escaped the mint and have fallen into my collection. I hope you will enjoy this collection and maybe learn from it. If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to ask.

MY REFERENCES PUBLICATIONS FOR THIS SIGNATURE SET INCLUDE:
The Error Coin Encyclopedia, Fourth Edition by Arnie Margolis, NLG and Fred Weinberg, NLG
Error Coins From "A" to "Z", 2009, by Arnold Margolis, NLG.
A Guide Book of United States Coins (The Red Book)by R.S. Yeoman edited by Kenneth Bressett.
NGC Collectors Society Article (12/07/2005) “Planchet Forming” by David Camire

Set Goals
NOMENCLATURE: When you discuss Blank and Planchets you run into a wide variety of definitions and understandings, some examples are: Type 1 Planchet and Type 2 Planchet, Blanks and Planchets, Type 1 Blank and Type 2 Blank, a Blank Planchet, a Blank with Rim, a Planchet with no rim, Type 1 Blank and Type 2 Planchet, a coin slug, a miss-struck coin, etc., this can go on and on. For the purpose of viewing this collection, I will attempt to define the different mint processes that lead up to the development of a Planchet that is destined for the Striking Process.

MIXING THE ALLOYS: When you describe the minting process, you must start with the refinery operation. This operation mixes the metal alloys into usable sheets of coining material for the Blanking Press. One very serious detrimental bi-product, from this process, is the production of noxious fumes and smoke that pollute the surrounding environment. Early in the 1980s and due to the clean air standards and economic reasons, the US mint decided to shut down those gas-fired kettles. The US Mint now has a group of contracted vendors who manufacture all of the coining materials. These materials include large 15-inch x 1500-foot rolls of metal sheets ready for use by the Blanking Press and, in some cases, ready to use Planchets. NOTE: The US Mint does supply, to the vendors, all of the metal alloys to produce the desired products.

TYPE 1 BLANK DEFINED: The Blanking Process starts when a large rolled sheet of coining material is loaded into the advancement and retaining rollers of the Blanking Press. This press uses several rows of steel punches, which will simultaneously punch out a series of round blanks from the coining material. The cutters on the Blanking Press will thrust into (approx.) 80% of the material, and with the force generated; the remaining 20% will be torn away.
When you view edge side of the disk you will see two distinct cut-rings: First is an 80% smooth shear type cut-ring that has a rounded appearance at the entry point of the cut. Second is a 20% jagged ripped cut-ring that is flat at exit point of the cut. The top and bottom surfaces of these blanks remain identical to the sheet of material. These are the chief characteristics that NGC utilizes to attribute this disk as a “TYPE ONE BLANK”.

TYPE 2 BLANK DEFINED: The Type 1 Blanks now go thru the Annealing Process. This process starts by sending the blanks into a furnace where these blanks are heated to very high temperature in order to relax the medal. From the furnace the blanks are loaded into perforated rotating drums that will chemically wash then dry and tumble polish these blanks. This process could take several hours to complete.
When you view the edge side of this blank you will see a slightly polished and weak view of the cut rings that were prominent as a type one blank. The top and bottom surfaces of these blanks are now shinny-clean but will show contact marks from all of the tumbling. These are the chief characteristics that NGC utilizes to attribute this disk as a “TYPE TWO BLANK”.

PLANCHET DEFINED: The Type 2 Blank travels to the “Upsetting Mill” To explain the upsetting mill just vision a horseshoe that is stationary, and now vision a clockwise rotating disk in the center of the horseshoe. The inside portion of the horseshoe, facing the rotating disk, has a “V Groove” cut into it. The rotating disk also has a series of smaller grooves that are cut into the edge side of this rotating disk. The input end of this Upsetting Mill is wider (between the Horseshoe Die and Rotating Disk) than the exit point of the mill. The Blank enters the Mill horizontally and is picked up by the two V groove dies. The blank is then propelled and forced thru the grooves; the space between these grooves narrows as the blank moves towards the exit. This action causes the metal on the rim of the disk to expand and rise proportionally on both sides of the Blank to a predetermined rim size.
When you view the edge of the blank you will see that both of the cut rings have disappeared to a fine polished rounded surface and you will also see that the edge is higher than the face of the Blank. When you view the obverse and reverse surfaces you will see a shinny-clean surface with contact marks and an outer 360-degree raised rim. These are the chief characteristics that NGC utilizes to attribute this Type 2 Disk as a “PLANCHET”.