This is a Colonial Issue Coin with an incomplete planchet. It’s a Rosa Americana Coin issued by William Wood. He was an Englishman and obtained a patent from King George I to produce these coins for Ireland and the American colonies. Most of them are dated 1722 1723 and 1724 but they were some dated 1733. They were issued in three denominations; a Half Penny, a Penny, and a Twopence piece. These were intended to be for the American Colonies. The obverse shows the head of George the first with numerous legends to that affect. The legends pretty much mean the grace of God, king of Great Britain France and Ireland. The Rosa americana issues have a reverse with a fully bloomed rose and the words ROSA AMERICANA UTILE DULCI. Which means American Rose-Useful and Sweet. The Rosa Americana Coins were rejected by the American colonies. The coins are made of a brass composition consisting of copper and zinc. The planchet quality was often rough and porous. My coin is undated, which is constant with the first pieces which had no date. The missing piece no doubt broke off as it it very porous and has a ragged edge. I did my best to get a decent photo but it was too difficult to show the details. Even worn this is considered to be in Fine condition.
Cool old error! Question? Did they see it as a damaged coin then and not worth its value or as a collectable coin? Hmm???
Yeah, Mine has a very similar issue, the bronze used to make these got a bit "Crumbly" over the years.. so I would say yours is a break rather then a "clip"
It has to be broken. Planchets were weighed and adjusted back then by filing or with plugs. That planchet likely would have been chucked in a junk pot. The plug needed to bring it up to weight would have been too much.
While it might be seen as a collectible now... it would have absolutely been seen as a damaged coin not worth its value back then. You have to remember.... the copper cent/penny was the size/weight it was because it was a penny-weight of copper. If there was a huge chunk missing like this, it wasn't worth a penny! Would you accept a $20 bill if 20% was cut off?
This is a clip - the following is an (original) planchet break: However, the A2 is the average weight for this particular variety.
Silver and gold, yes, Base metal brass no. Gold and silver coins had nearly their full face value of metal in them, the base metal coins did not. They basically made no money coining gold or silver, they did make profits on the copper/brass coinage. At the first US mint it was intended that the profits on the copper coins would pay all of the expenses of the Mint. Took awhile before that actually worked out.
