I often see "pattern pieces" on CT but had no thought of getting one...until now! Just got this one for $10 with no other bidders. I'm happy...
These, as well as other 'model' coins were produced by Joseph Moore of Birmingham from the 1840s-70s. These coins were meant to be more practical than the current circulation pieces issued for the UK owing to the silver core (in reality usually plated or washed in the model coinage) which meant that the intrinsic value was more compact, and yet not inconveniently small. The pieces found great popularity in and around Birmingham, to the point that the Royal Mint had to make a statement that they did not recognize the coins. Eventually, the estate of Mr Moore was liquidated, and corroded dies were found, along with some planchets (noted in the British Museum treatise on copper and bronze coinage). These were used to produce some later examples, but the majority were produced from 1844-48 before the RM denouncement. Kevin Barter has written a very decent illustrated catalogue of the series.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1844_Victoria_One_Penny_Model https://en.numista.com/catalogue/exonumia19751.html
That's funny you post this, as I was just looking to buy the One Penny variety the other day. My problem is that I found out some pieces misspelled PENNY as PENNEY. That's the one I want now.
Love it...that's why I wanted a pair of the civil war tokens "Shoot Them On The Spot" and "Shoot Them On The Spoot"
They caught my eye. I'm into US half cents and one cents so your pics grabbed me. I won't try for them (not US) but certainly interesting.
