25C - Clamshell Lamination - A Different kind of Lamination - Thread #7

Hi all,
Another Mint error from my collection I have not shown -
Have you ever heard of a Clamshell Lamination?
This is when the Clad layer lifts up from the Copper Core or a Solid coin splits in half.
I submitted this beauty to NGC a few years ago!

Enjoy

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Whaaaaat? Looooong time ago I found a quarter like this before I was interested in errors. And I thought it was damaged. I should have kept it. Darnit

 

Very interesting coin. Never seen anything like that. Thanks for sharing this information. It increases my knowledge of this hobby. And for that I am
grateful for people like you.

 

That would be awesome to see! You need to find and let out those errors!

 

@Fred Weinberg
@mikediamond
Hi Fred, I noticed that Clamshell Lamination is listed in the Error-Ref.com website under Alloy Errors, but there is no description, information or picture for it. Any plans to update that listing?

Here is what you and Mike Diamond have -

 

Are there any mint error experts here? I have a split planchet or clamshell error that I was told was authentic BUT the error is on a rare coin. I was told that the two together would diminish the coins value. Is this true? My split planchet coin is a 1914-D Buffalo Nickel. One problem I know is that the coin has PMD. It looks like someone put the coin in a vise or some other mechanical means in attempts to try to close the coin up. I know that will diminish the value if not ruin it altogether. But it is a 14 Denver Buffalo for Gods sake. Anybody have any ideas about this? Thanks for your help

 

PM98 - Mike Diamond, and another error specialist
keep that site up-to-date; not me (I'm not that
good at doing more than the basics on a computer)

Is there an email address on the site where you can tell them
that the category doesn't have any photos or verbiage?

Nick69 -Photos would be helpful, but the fact that it's a 14-D actually
hurts it (to the error collector) because very very few will
pay the 'normal' price' for the 14-D (depending on condition/value)
because they can get an example for their Error collection/Type set
with a common date.

Can you post a photo of the obv, rev., and open edge?

 

Sorry I'm not the best photographer but here goes...
I have been collecting coins for over 50 years and without the error or the PMD I think the coin grades VF30 to XF40 I'll leave it up to others to decide and possibly give a value if any and BTW I'm NOT looking to sell this anyway

 

I understand what you're saying Fred errors can be a dime a dozen but how many people can say they have a rare error on a rare coin? Could this be another dimension of coin collecting?

 

It's a semi-key date. It would have to be in much better condition to have a premium. If it is indeed a clamshell lamination or a planchet flaw it's not really that major.
The Post Mint Damage just ruins your coin and makes it undesirable.

 

It looks like a nice example of a 'clamshell split' planchet.

The damage/rim hits do hurt the value, whether it's a 14-D or a common date.

The coin, without the error or damage, looks like it's about $100 or so -
I'd say a fair retail price (just an estimate) would be $60-$75, because of the damage. (the 14-D would be considered a semi-key date, not a 'rare' date, imo)

There are plenty of rare dates/mm coins with errors on them - and depending
on many factors, the error can add or subtract value to the coin.

For example, back in 1974 I bought a huge collection of mostly type coin errors -
in the deal were 6 1921-P Mercury Dimes (key date), GEM Original lightly Toned
BU's - that were struck 5%-10% off center. At the time, the normal 1921 in that
condition was worth about $1,200 or so. Because of that very high price (1974)
no error collector would pay $1,200,; no Mercury Dime collector would pay
that $1,200 value for a 'not normal' 1921 Mercury Dime.

I eventually sold them for $700-$800 each.

Today, the normal coin is worth $3,000 +, and the error might, repeat might,
be worth a $300- $500 premium over that level - because you can buy the
same error, same condition, but common date, for $200-$250, and only a specialist
would be willing to pay 10-15 times the common date value for the error; that
specialist would probably be a Mercury dime collector, not an error collector.

Just a few thoughts to contemplate.

 

Thank you for your response. I just wanted to say one other thing about Buffalo Nickels. From my point of view through regular Buffalo Nickels (not errors such as the 1914/(3), 1916DDO, 1918/7-D, 1936-D 3-1/2 leg, 1937-D 3 leg [I would consider them errors and NOT part of the regular series]) the ONLY Buffalo Nickel more valuable than the 1914-D is the 1913-S Type2 therefore wouldn't that make the 1914-D a KEY date and not a semi key date? Or do you just consider the KEY date coin to be the MOST valuable coin in a series? Also from what I can see the 1916-S and the 1921-D Mercury Dimes are worth more than the 1921-P. Therefore if you consider the 1921-P Mercury a KEY date then why isn't the 1914-D Buffalo also considered a KEY date? Oh and BTW Mercury Dimes also have what I would call errors too the 1942/1 and the 1942/1-D. Sorry I don't mean to be argumentative I'm just trying to stand my ground for the 1914-D Buffalo.

 

As general rule a significant error on a key or semi-key date is a white elephant*.

You have to think about who your market for such a coin would be. First thought would be those that collect that series. The people who collect that series want a coin as close to perfect as possible for the grade for their set. They don't want a "defective" coin or one with an error on it. So that eliminates a large portion of the market.

Next thought would be error collectors. The problem here is that they just want a nice example of the error, they don't care what coin it is on. So they are not going to be interested in paying much of a premium over what the error is worth on a common coin just because this one is on a scarce coin. They don't care about the coin, just the error. So that eliminates most of the rest of the market. And you are stuck with a coin that no one wants.

About the only way to get a premium price for it is to find someone who is collecting the series, and who wants every coin in the set to have a major error. People like this are scarcer than hens teeth,and possibly rarer that key dates with major errors.

*White Elephant. In India a white elephant was considered to be sacred and all belonged to the local ruler. If a subject was gaining too much power, money, and influence the ruler would make a gift to them of a white elephant. Being sacred it had to be pamper and well taken care of, and of course could not be used for any work by which it might help pay for its very expensive upkeep. Often the gift of a white elephant would eventually be the ruin of the recipient.

Today a yard sale might be referred to as a white elephant sale, or you may see a white elephant gift exchange. Basically an exchange of items that no one really wants.

 

Yes I understand that Conder I already got that from Fred. This coin was my grandfathers coin he most likely got it when he was 17 years old in 1914. I have no idea who did the PMD if it was him or not. In any case this coin will stay with me until I die I just wanted to get a possible estimate for when I die so my wife won't get taken advantage of. I would think this coin would be worth $100 to $200 WITHOUT the error or PMD that's why I was looking for someone else's opinion WITH the error and PMD. I don't profess to know everything about coins and Yes I am one of those people that have been collecting coins for over 50 years, BUT I thought this website was intended to help those better understand what they have despite how much or how little experience they have. Sorry to be so frustrating to you Conder. Thanks