Let me try...clips can be curved, in which case they will have close to the same radius as the ordinary coin (that is a normal coin would pretty much fit in the clip), they can be straight or they can be ragged. Not sure what you mean by a "broken coin", but the first clip I ever got was at a flea market, it was an Indian cent that the seller said it was a shame someone cut it with tin snips. I'll see if I can find it.
Is there a reference page that has industry standards + industry nomenclature for mint damage? Anyone know who posted the slabbed cent with the ragged damage, and the explanation of how it happened - last week or so here ??? I don't remember if it was a Copper cent, or a 'Zinclonian' cent ...