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Message:: [QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 1794244, member: 112"]That is a possible explanation yes, maybe even the likely explanation. But proving that's what it is would be pretty difficult. Off metal strikes were certainly not unheard of and many mints did produce them. But as  a general rule few if any of them would ever survive to find their way into collections. Back when I was still collecting coins with a focus on gold ducats I ran across this coin in an auction -  [ATTACH=full]290073[/ATTACH]  [ATTACH=full]290074[/ATTACH]  The auction catalog listed it as previously unknown off metal strike of the 1732 Hieronymous gold ducat. The coin was not listed as existing in any book or catalog. I bought it. A few years later I ran across another example of an off metal strike for this coin -  [ATTACH=full]290079[/ATTACH]  [ATTACH=full]290080[/ATTACH]  - I bought that one too. The point is these off metal strikes do exist, there just aren't any records of them being made most of the time. When records can be found they are sometimes called patterns or test strikes and written up in the books on the subject. This makes them much easier to sell and much more valuable. They can exist in base metals, copper, even silver. But whatever the case some people find them eminently collectible, even desirable, and others do not. Just another case of chocolate and vanilla.[/QUOTE]