Pattern coins

Hello. This topic is for talking about pattern coins.

A pattern 1 cent 1850, USA.


What are patterns:

Pattern coins are test coins minted for example to test what the coin would like. Pattern coins are often VERY valuable. There are many different kinds of pattern coins.


Pattern coins:
Pattern: Usually a coin minted for testing or a not approved design-coin.

Finland 2 Penniä 1866 Pattern coin.
Essai: Alternative term for Pattern, usually on French and French-speaking countries.

France 2 decimes 1799 essai.
Trial strike: Often a test coin, or a die trial.

Soviet Union 20 Kopeks 1953 trial strike.
Novodel: Russian copy of a pattern coin, made before 1917.

Russian Empire 1 Rouble 1810 Pattern (novodel)
Piedfort: Usually a pattern coin that is about half thicker than a normal coin.

France 1946 piedfort.
Other kinds of pattern coins exist, too.


In stamps and banknotes
Usually in banknotes and stamps, patterns are much rarer.
Specimen banknote: A banknote used in recognizing a banknote, often given to banks.

"Trial" banknote/stamp: Some banknotes either drawn or produced for testing etc. exist. These are very rare.
Specimen stamp: A stamp sent to postmasters so that they can identify valid stamps. (AKA: Muestra, Monster, Muster, Образец)

Set of specimen stamps, Finland 1889.

Do you have/have had patterns?

I have a 10 MK 1889 specimen stamp. I am planning on buying a 1866 2pen and maybe patterns/pattern that cost under 300€ in the future (about 5-10years).

Warning: Due to the amount of people here, I want to ensure the safety. Be careful, I have heard about 1 person who was robbed due to a numismatics forum.

Quote: "Monninen1"​Essai: Alternative term for Pattern, usually on French and French-speaking countries.
​
​France 2 decimes 1799 essai.
​

​There are many different terms for pattern used from different countries, although "Essai" is the only non-English one I hear commonly used in English language sources, usually uniquely to describe patterns of Francophone origin. Prueba (Spanish) and Prova (Italian) are also commonly seen on trial strikes as well.

Essai coins are usually interesting to see how designs for common circulating coins, as well as coins we all know and love, could potentially have turned out looking. Sometimes I'd actually have preferred a design from an essai, sometimes not so much. Many post-WWII French essais are relatively common and cheap (around 40€ for a common one, of about a few thousand mintage), but being a type collector I have little reason to buy one.

I own a couple of this type of coins in my collection, some on the lower end...

But this two are my precious one and (not at home) ;)

From Venezuela https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces71417.html (SP 62)

From Lebanon https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces102062.html (not in slab)

and Syria https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces102027.html (SP 65)

I dont think I will seek to collect all Essais types for my collection, neither I like slabbed coins, but due to their scarcity and value the two that are slabbed will remain in that way until i find a good way to get extremely expensive or rare coins for my collection.

The three coins above does not have mintage numbers, but the Venezuelan one has only 7 certifications as per NGC census https://www.ngccoin.com/census/world/venezuela/sc-328/2c/ 3 on the Syrian one https://www.ngccoin.com/census/world/syria/sc-302/5p/ and 6 (+ mine not slabbed) on the Lebanese one https://www.ngccoin.com/census/world/lebanon/sc-195/1-2p/

Quote​Piedfort: Usually a pattern coin that is about half thicker than a normal coin.​
​France 1946 piedfort.
​Other kinds of pattern coins exist, too.

​My understanding on Piedforts is that they are normally double the weight of the normal coin not "half thicker"

Quote: "JustforFun"​

Quote​Piedfort: Usually a pattern coin that is about half thicker than a normal coin.​
​​France 1946 piedfort.
​​Other kinds of pattern coins exist, too.

​​My understanding on Piedforts is that they are normally double the weight of the normal coin not "half thicker"

​I thought they were both; double the weight of a normal issue because they were x2 the thickness.

I have some post-1982 Piedfort 10 centimes, but they are not featured in the 10 centimes Piedfort coin catalog. Are they real or fake?

Quote: "King_Hezekiah"​I have some post-1982 Piedfort 10 centimes, but they are not featured in the 10 centimes Piedfort coin catalog. Are they real or fake?

​Hello and welcome!

Pictures would be helpful.

But there are indeed 10 centime piedforts from after 1982:
https://www.ma-shops.com/numisaisne/item.php?id=14970&lang=fr