Featured Defining a Pattern

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Jaelus, May 15, 2019.

  1. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    The Newman Numismatic Portal Dictionary (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionary) defines a pattern as a coin which has not been approved for release, produced to evaluate a proposed coin design, or a term which includes a wide array of early strikes including die trials, hub trials, die adjustment strikes, experimental pieces and other trial pieces; anything that is different from the production run that is not a mint error.

    I would not call a die or hub trial a pattern, nor would I consider a die adjustment strike to be a pattern (though you could have a trial or adjustment strike of a pattern). I feel like major sources seem to define what a pattern is differently from each other and there is not a consensus on this definition.

    What do you all consider to be or not be a pattern?

    To me, a pattern is a version of a coin that is proposed for release. I see several types, and think there is generally a consensus that what I've listed here as types 1-3 are patterns.
    1. Not Produced - A type that was not approved and/or not produced
    2. Working Version - A type that was eventually approved, but with modifications made
    3. Final Version - A type that was approved as-is (Note: some countries mark patterns with words or letters denoting the coin as a pattern - it is assumed these markings are removed for the final version and they still fall into this type)
    4. Transitional - As type 3 above, but dated outside (usually a year earlier or later) of the business strike run (for example the 1856 flying eagle cent). Some transitional patterns eventually get released into circulation as they are identical to the business strikes except for the date, which can cause confusion in identifying them as a pattern.
    5. Off-metal - An approved type on a proposed planchet of alternate thickness or composition
    6. Fantasy - Patterns as above, except produced for the collector market, usually in large quantities. For example, Hungary is not on the euro, but since they became an E.U. member state they have produced fantasy pattern sets of proposed euro designs.
    Then you also have test strikes, die splashes, and die adjustment strikes, which to me are artifacts produced during the production of a coin but are not patterns in and of themselves. I include them here since they are included in the NNP definition:
    1. Test strike - A uniface die strike, typically on a softer and/or more inexpensive metal than the intended coin. I suppose you can have a bi-face test strike, but that becomes hard to distinguish from an off-metal pattern since you need to know if the intent was to produce an example of a proposed planchet change (an off-metal pattern), or if it was just produced to test the dies (a bi-face test strike).
    2. Die splash - A test strike as above, but struck without a collar, sometimes on a large and/or irregular planchet
    3. Adjustment Strike - A test strike made to verify the correct pressure and/or alignment in a coin press
    Here are some examples from my collection:

    Hungary 1922 5 Korona
    Adamo KE5 - Nickel Planchet
    Early Version - No Initials Under Shield
    NGC MS65

    This pattern is an example of a type 1 (above) Not Produced. Due to a change in Hungary's coat of arms and post-WWI hyperinflation that led to an overhaul of all denominations, this coin was never produced. The 5 korona (silver) denomination itself was ultimately not produced for circulation after 1909.

    DVko8DPSOWXxLJxBrRTg_obv.png

    Hungary 1950BP Copper-Nickel 2 Forint
    KM-548p
    NGC MS67

    This pattern is an example of the second type - Working Version. The size of the inner star on the obverse was adjusted for the business strike. The PV mark (denoting a pattern) was also removed.

    9lGAFeZHSbuIVGIGOVle_NGC4919380-004_OBV.jpg

    Hungary 1992BP 5 Forint Pattern Proof
    Nickel-Brass

    This pattern is an example of the third type - Final Version. This coin was approved for production as-is, and only the "Probaveret" legend (denoting a pattern) was removed.

    5-forint-probaveret-1992-pp-b94a_1_big.jpg

    Hungary 1916KB 2 Fillér
    Huszar-2225 Iron Planchet
    NGC AU58

    This pattern is the closest I have to an example of the fourth type - Transitional, though the planchet composition, diameter, and thickness were also adjusted.

    Aside from the planchet changes above, the design is based on the bronze 2 fillér KM-481, which was struck from 1892-1915. This coin, dated 1916 falls one year after that range, making it a type of transitional pattern.

    JACUp0H5SFuAQTQglM3a_1916 2 filler iron AU58 obv.jpg

    Austria 1916 Corona
    KM-PN85 Aluminum Planchet
    NGC MS62

    This is an example of the fifth type, an Off-Metal pattern. In this case, it is identical to a silver 1916 corona except for the prototype aluminum planchet and the use of a reeded collar.

    Note for this coin, Krause has denoted it a pattern. It is definitively known that the purpose of this coin was for a proposed planchet composition change. Clashed 1916 working dies were used to strike this off-metal pattern, with the most likely intent that the type begin production in aluminum in 1917, however, it was ultimately not produced due to the death of Emperor Franz Joseph on November 21st, 1916. Note that if the type change had occurred in 1917, it would have made this a transitional pattern instead of an off-metal pattern.

    3KqZt38RgmmukWCY4PUw_pattern_obv.jpg

    Hungary 1896 Dukát (Karoly Robert Type)
    Hungarian Millennium X-9
    Obverse Test Strike in Lead

    This is an example of a traditional uniface Test Strike. A lead planchet was used to test the obverse die for this gold type, and the type information was scrawled on the back to record it (sorry I don't have a reverse pic handy).

    lFEXawBkTiOWcCxPikLE_download.png

    Hungary 1883KB Krajczár
    KM-TS29 Nickel Planchet
    NGC MS65

    This coin is identical to the copper business strike 1883 krajczár, except it is struck on a nickel planchet. Note that in this case, Krause denoted it a test strike and not a pattern. To me, for this to be a bi-face test strike, it would have needed to be produced purely for the purpose of testing the dies. That seems unlikely, as supporting evidence points to several years around this period where the Austro-Hungarian mint were experimenting with proposed alternate planchet compositions for minor coinage (which to me would be patterns). However, it is unusual that this coin was produced in the middle of the run of the copper business strike type. While I consider this to be a pattern, this may in fact be an example of a bi-face test strike.

    qOI6IVKpSUmTFbHGGkCZ_1883 krajczar nickel MS65 obv.jpg



    Austria 1898 Signvm Memoriae

    Franz Joseph I Jubilee
    Obverse Die Splash

    This is an example of a traditional uniface Die Splash. The obverse die of this medal was struck on a bronze planchet without a collar in order to test the die.

    xZUlX4NJQhCx7PslJDw7_die splash.jpg

    Hungary 1870GYF 10 Krajczár

    KM-451 Obverse Die Splash Struck in Tin
    From GYF Mint Archive Book

    This is a non-traditional example of a uniface Die Splash. This type was struck or pressed in lead-tin without a collar (it is wafer thin). In this case the purpose was to be glued into the mint archive book to record the type at the GYF mint. (The date is known as I also have the uniface reverse from this pairing, and the provenance).

    lDgDFN1hQMyVrkW9OtOk_obv.jpg
     
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  3. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    I acquired a much better example of the fourth type - a transitional pattern.

    Hungary 1982BP 10 Forint

    Aluminum-Bronze Pattern of KM-636

    This is a transitional pattern, as this piece is dated 1982 while business strikes were not produced of this type or composition until 1983.

    1982-10-forint-probaveret-obv.jpg
     
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  4. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    I'm thinking this through mostly from the US point of view. To me, a pattern is a coin struck with a prototype design and/or on a prototype planchet by or on behalf of the mint. This covers 1, 2, 4, and 5 above.

    Category 2 has a bit of a gray area. There are types where there was a short-lived design that was in the process of being changed as it went into production. The Morgan dollar needed to go into production when it did, ready or not. The design continued to be modified while it was being produced, giving us the 8TF, 7/8 TF, and two different 7TF reverses, along with minor obverse hub changes. These aren't patterns, but had testing continued longer than it was permitted, perhaps the 8TF reverse would only be known as a pattern today. Likewise for other things that weren't caught in time for lack of various types of testing, but quickly changed when they hit production (1864 SM 2c, 1913 Ty. 1 5c, 1883 No CENTS 5c).

    Category 3 is a little trickier. If a final version approved as is was issued as circulation coinage, then there's no way of telling it was a pattern unless produced in a different manner. I don't know of US designs that indicated they were patterns.

    Category 5, off-metal strikes, can have a gray border with fantasy strikes. Some of these were produced upon request and had nothing to do with development of a new coin. Nevertheless, they fit in with the pattern category.

    Category 6 should not cover merchandise not made by or on behalf of the mint that would be developing the design, materials, or technology.

    There's another category I would add, and that is testing of a minting technology. The GM Roller Press coins come to mind here. Had the tests used actual circulating designs and planchets, I would say that these would qualify as patterns, assuming one could tell them from coins produced with the normal production technology.
     
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  5. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    Why not 3 as well? If you have a piece with a prototype design or planchet and that design or planchet is accepted, that doesn't make the piece no longer a prototype (though it may be harder to identify).

    Some great insights. I suspect you are correct.

    This category is a bit trickier for sure. For world patterns of this category, many have distinguishing marks added to denote them as trial pieces, which makes them easier to identify. Unfortunately the US does not do this, however, after the design is approved, successive coins produced with that design are frequently struck from different dies from those used to strike pattern pieces. As a result of this, unmarked category 3 patterns may sometimes be distinguishable through die analysis. As an example in US patterns, I believe this is the method used for identifying (at least some) Eisenhower dollar patterns.

    Very true, or in some cases were unauthorized pieces made by mint employees. For example in soviet era Hungary, sometimes mint employees would make illicit strikes in copper of some of the gold issues (the gold proofs were only made for export). While they are off-metal strikes, they are of course not true off-metal patterns but are really fantasy pieces as you mentioned. These grey area coins can be identified when the source and intent of production are known.

    If I read this right you're talking about pieces that look like fantasy patterns but are made unofficially and should be considered tokens. I agree with that.

    You're right I forgot about that. I completely agree those would be patterns as well. Category 7 then - An approved type produced with an experimental minting technology.
     
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