Pattern Currency Great Britain (1953) Halfcrown Obverse Strike

Here is a coin that is interesting in that it may be a pattern. Weight at Noonan's was slightly off (actual 14.105 gms). It is of the Type 1 obverse variety and struck on a copper=ickel planchet. Reverse is blank and shows as is often the case that the planchet had been somewhat rough with no special preparation. It looks to be of specimen but not proof quality but of the currency type.
Pictures are of the pre-conservation and then following of post conservation (the latter hard to show as the lustre is extremely good:


Post-conservation view which I will try to add better examples of probably tomorrow:

 

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Interesting piece!

 

Could it be a die trial of sorts?

 

Yes, I wonder. What I didn't really post about was that the legend is a hybrid between the 1953 Obverse 1 and later types. If you notice there is not BRITT: OMN which would make it the later post-1953 obverse BUT as pointed out the "I" of DEI points to the space between border beads - the usual post-1953 halfcrown has "I" pointed to border bead. I will take a picture of the post-1953 type with"I" of DEI to border bead.

1953 Obverse 1:


1953 Obverse 2:




1954 with changed legend, NO BRITT:OMN but "I" points to border bead:



2nd specimen of normal 1954 as above:



Here again is the OP coin with "I" to space:

 

Is this always true? I only own one half crown of the period, so I'm asking for information. On my 1967 halfcrown, the I in DEI points to center of the gap between beads. (Too late for pics tonight.)

 

I don't know much about these issues but that's a beautiful coin. I have a 1960 Half Crown in my collection. It's also nice but not nearly as good as yours.

Bruce