Wow! Ask 50 people, "What is a Novodel?" and you get 50 different answers. Here's a few definitions from various sources: eBay Guides: (The quick, concise meaning) Novodel, often a term used in Russian numismatics is to describe "restrikes". In recent days, sellers would use such terms to identify their coins, probably to confuse the buyers. What might be a counterfeit coin can be mistakenly identified as "novodel" and be sold as such! (The longer version): There is a subtle difference between a novodel and a restrike. A restrike is actually a subset of the term novodel. The critical point betwen a novodel and a restrike is that a restrike is often a strict reproduction using the same dies and methods to try to replicate the exact same coin design that was minted in the past. Whereas, a novodel does not necessarily have to be done so and actually allows some "modifications". An excellent example would be the Siberian Kopeks. In the past, the original Siberian Kopeks were crudely struck with bad edging. However with the novodels, well defined planchets [flans] with a completely different edging was created. To call it a restrike is not appropriate, as the edging, quality of strike, and planchet quality differs vastly. One can possibly compare it to the well known 1804 King of Siam set restruck in the 1830s. While it is correct to call it a restrike, the term Novodel cannot be used. It is a strict and faithful reproduction of such coins in circulation. E-Sylum (September 15, 2002): Steve Pellegrini's article says the term Novodels refer to special coins produced by the Russian Royal Mint in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They were struck on demand for sale or presentation to favored collectors, almost exclusively of the Russian aristocracy. A Russian Count or Duke with a hole in his folder, would present the Mint-master with an order for whatever date, denomination and composition of coin desired. If the dies were extant, fine, if not, new ones were cut. If the coin in question was so rare that nobody remembered how it looked, then an approximation was produced. Many Novodels of rare dates were struck in off metals (some were of dates which had never existed, but which the noble collector felt should have existed). The characteristic most Novodels shared (aside from rarity) is whimsy. It appears that in the area of manufactured rarities the Russian Mint put even the US Mint in Philadelphia to shame. "Thoughts on Proof 1804 Original and Restrike Silver Dollars (and Their Cousins, the Proofs of 1801-1803)" by John Dannreuther: " Novodel, denotes a coin struck from copy dies that are very similar but slightly different than original dies used for a particular series. … The 1801-1803 Proof dollars have long been called ‘Restrikes,’ but again this is a misnomer-they should also be called novodels as original dies were not employed in their striking, thus they are not restrikes of a previous coin. … Their striking quality seems to indicate a striking date of 1858 or later. They may have been made earlier but their weights indicate an even later period." PCGS: The Heritage catalog explains that "a Novodel is similar to -- but different from -- a restrike. Typically, it says, a restrike is produced subsequent to a coin's original delivery date, but with the same dies, while a Novodel is struck from dies produced later than the date shown on the coin. It traces the production of Novodel silver dollars dated 1801, 1802 and 1803 -- including the Gilchrist specimen -- to the 1830s, a time when numerous patterns and fantasy pieces were being produced at the Philadelphia Mint." I'm not going to bore you with more definitions. It suffices that all these definitions have one thing in common. Novodels were not struck as circulation coins, but as a service to the coin collectors of the time period they were struck. There were collectors in the past,just like today, who desired "high" quality coins. Often, it was difficult to find high quality coins in circulation, if not, the technology to mint such coins wasn't good enough to satisify high end collectors. Novodels were the forerunners of special mint sets, proof-like coins and sets, proof coins and sets and specimen coins and sets. As the previous definitions point out Novodels were made solely for collectors. If you acquire a regular business strike18th century Russian Denga, Kopeck or Ruble the coin will not impress you as they are run-of-the-mill coins. If you compare a business strike coin to its Novodel you will notice the Novodel has a higher relief, its edges aren't split and its surface is smoother, thus you'd pay the Mint's Director a premium for the coin. Over the years Pattern and Proof Novodels have been clandestinely struck to appease the demands of the Coin Collector. A novodel is not a counterfeit, or a copy but strictly speaking, a production from the official mint using the same die after retooling or reconstituting it. It can be a new die created to strike a coin that wasn't previously struck, i.e. 1801, '02, '03 and '04 Silver Dollars. Some requests for Novodels were made because the original coin had become less desireable due to toning, mishandling by someone (a fingerprint, a scratch, a rim nick, etc.) or someone cleaning/shining the coin . Some requests were made in order to create continuity in a set (missing dates because coins weren't previously purchased or for the reason, in certain years, those particular coins weren't produced). Thought you might like to know... Clinker
To Art: Thanks for reading yet another posting of mine and double thanks for taking some of youir precious time to comment... Clinker
