GERMANY. Kaiserreich. Wilhelm I, 1871-1888. 5 Pfennig (Copper-Nickel, 20 mm, 1.17 g), 50 % off center and split after strike planchet error, uncertain mint, no date (1873-1889). Blank. Rev. [DE]UTSCHES REIC[H date / 5 / •PFENNIG•]. Cf. Jaeger 3 (reverse). Extremely rare with these two interesting mint errors. Good extremely fine.



A split after strike planchet error occurs when a planchet partially or completely separates into two layers after the coin has been struck, splitting along a pre-existing weakness in the metal.

Such defects usually originate during planchet production. Impurities, trapped gas, oxidation, or poor bonding within the metal can create an internal plane of weakness. The tremendous pressure exerted during striking places additional stress on this flaw: although the planchet remains intact during the initial strike, it may split along the weakened plane immediately afterward.

The coin offered here presents a particularly dramatic example. It was struck far off center on what was evidently an already defective planchet. Because only part of the planchet was caught between the dies, the resulting strike exerted highly uneven pressure across the metal. This extreme, asymmetrical stress appears to have exploited the planchet’s pre-existing weakness and literally forced it apart, causing the split immediately after the strike.

In the present piece, the combination of a off-center strike and a split after strike planchet error provides unusually clear evidence of the tremendous mechanical forces involved in the minting process.