I got this in a bulk lot purchase about 7 years ago. I finally got around to submitting it to NGC 2-3 years ago, but it came back "NOT ENCAPSULATED - INELLIGIBLE TYPE". When you think about it, this shouldn't come as a big surprise because it wasn't like it was submitted in the original Mint cello with the rest of an Uncirculated Set, but I still hoped for the best. A normal dime is 17.9mm, and this blank is 17.88mm which seems about right since it doesn't have a clad layer. Would the fact that it doesn't have a clad layer be a dead giveaway? A normal dime weighs 2.268gms, and this blank weighs 2.3gms. However, my scale only weighs to the nearest tenth of a gram, so this would still be in the ballpark. A normal dime is 1.34mm thick, and this blank is 1.25mm thick. Again, it seems that it is still in the ballpark considering it doesn't have the clad layer. So, what do you think? Is it just wishful thinking on my part? In any event, I still keep it around as a conversation piece. Chris
At that weight if it was a real dime blank it should have the clad layers visible. Since it doesn't it is almost certainly NOT a dime blank. (A silver blank would have been heavier.)
I sort of figured that, but I really wasn't sure when the clad layer was applied. I know that if you look at a normal clad dime, you can see that the edge is about half copper (all to one side) and half clad (all to the opposite side). I guess this is caused by the punch that cuts each blank. I've tried to think if there is any other industry that would require a copper blank like this to be cut out as part of their production process. Can anyone think of another? Chris
The clad layers (plural - two layers) are 'applied' to the copper core when the coin stock is made. Contractors supply the Mint with large coils of coin stock which the Mint feeds into a blanking machine to produce blanks. This coin stock has a copper core with copper-nickel clad layers just like the clad coins. (Nickel coin stock is a uniform 75% copper and 25% nickel throughout and therefore does not have clad layers.) Contractors supply cent planchets directly to the Mint. In your photos the "blank" appears to have raised rims. Is that the case? If so, it would be a "planchet".
No, it's not a planchet. On the one side (1st photo) the edge is slightly rounded downward which suggests that it was the top side when the blank was cut. On the other side (2nd photo) the edge is turned slightly upward (sort of like a finned rim) which suggests that it was the bottom side when the blank was cut. This definitely did not go through the upsetting mill which turns the blank into a planchet. Chris
If rascal had this it would go straight to his junk copper pile or in the trash can. It sure as heck would not be sent to NGC. this thing looks like one of the cut out slugs that electricans do to insert the electric cables.
They don't make junction boxes out of copper. Maybe you should find one and submit it to the Electrical Contractors Error Association. I think they're right down the hall from maddieclash. Chris
