A planchet is a metal disc prepared for stamping into a coin. They can be valuable if an error occurs during production. The terminology can be murky, but a blank becomes a tablecloth when stamped with a coin die. Planchets are made by stretching metal and punching out discs. Errors can occur, but mints try to keep them out of circulation. Planchets are visually interesting but difficult to verify and not very valuable. It is not possible for a blank surface to have ridged edges unless manipulated.
A planchet is a metal disc that has been prepared to be stamped like a coin, but not yet stamped. Planchets are sometimes called “blank coins”. These small metal discs are produced in large numbers either in mints or in structures whereby the mints contract to create blanks. Sometimes an error occurs during the production of the coin and a white napkin is mistakenly put into circulation; such blanks can be valuable, depending on the coin involved.
The terminology surrounding planchets is a bit murky. Officially, a flat metal disc that has been machined is considered a blank. When the blank has been stamped to create a raised edge, it becomes a tablecloth, prepared to be stamped with a coin imprint. Once stamped with the coin die, the disc becomes a coin. An empty or weak planchet is a planchet that was either not hit by the die or was hit by an incorrectly recorded die that left only a faint impression.
When discussing ancient coins, the term “flan” is used to describe a blank. However, in practice, the term “planchet” is often used whether we are talking about a real planchet, a blank or a flan, which can sometimes lead to confusion. Flans were made by casting, rather than machining, and tend to have more irregularities as a result.
Planchets are made by stretching a sheet of metal to a uniform thickness and stamping it with a die that punches out a number of discs. The discs at this point have somewhat rough edges and usually have a cloudy color as well. When the die is printed to make it into a planchet, creating a raised edge also smooths out the edges. The blank napkins are then inserted into a die press which stamps the blanks with the imprint of the coin and adds the distinctive reed edges found on many coins.
Mints usually try to keep errors out of circulation, but they are occasionally released and can become hot items for collectors. A planchet is visually interesting, but can be difficult to verify, which is why planchets are usually not very valuable. One could potentially counterfeit a blank coin with the right equipment. It is important to note that since most mints add ridged edges at the time coins are minted in the die, it is not possible for a board surface to be blank and the edges to be ridged. This can only happen due to abnormal wear or deliberate manipulation of the coin.
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