If such a small area (in both places) were as a result of an incomplete planchet, wouldn't the outside lettering still be complete, instead of looking smashed through damage of some sort. Also, opposite each of the 2 areas there appears to be no signs of Blakesley effect
Sorry to burst your bubble but im favoring damage.A ground down job or something else similar,doesn't match a straight clip nor definitely not curved.Both of the areas in question also look exactly the same to each other.Look around the area by we trust its evidence of the coin being messed with outside of the mint.
I would have to say no not a double incomplete planchet. Mostly because of the separation between the 2. To be that far apart, there would be the presence of a third coin. To conserve metal the planchet are placed very close together when being stamped out from the raw metal sheet. Take a look at this triple 'clip' Lincoln Cent
This picture look like the coin was cut with diagonal cutters. notice how the point meets in the center, not at the edge. Planchets are stamped out from one direction
I think the coin in the OP is a minor double clip (incomplete planchet). Both clipped edges appear to have the "cut and tear" feature (see attached link for details) http://www.error-ref.com/blanking-and-cutting-errors/
I also think the OP's 1990-P nickel is an incomplete planchet error coin. Good fade out and design taper. That design taper is most difficult to fake.
The first coin shown appears to be an incomplete planchet that affected both sides, barely. The edge photos show no signs of being tampered with that I can see. The second coin shown is clearly PMD.
The first coin does look like it's got some minor clips to me. Take my non-expert assessment on that with the proverbial grain of salt, however.
http://www.error-ref.com/_straight_clips_/ http://www.error-ref.com/_straight_clips_/ Blakesly Effect is wrong, the letters aren't elongated like they are being sucked towards the clip, in fact it like they were ground down or smashed flat instead, the edge near the clip doesn't taper appropriately. it doesn't need to have a Blakesly effect in every case, but it has one, and it's not opposite the clip. Just one persons opinion and I'm not a professional, but I think both coins are PMD, the 1977D being the more obvious and easier to tell. on the 1990 I factored in for a straight clip off the edge for the sheet or a curved clip from the punch, because it's so minor it could be either really, but it just doesn't "look" right to me. Obverse "TRUST" looks smashed if anything, Reverse "UNUM", looks worn down, overall. I'd hope, but I'm very skeptical on it.