Have a question about French coins

CoinAddict

What is the difference between an Essai and a pattern? I saw some of both on the NEN website and was curious about what the difference was between them.

newsman

I think an essai is a trial strike of an approved design, while a pattern is just a proposed design.

CoinAddict

Were these aprroved designs actually minted in large quantities or are there only a few known of each design? Thanks for the help so far, Chuck.

newsman

I don't know how the French do it, but in Brazil, they issue "provas," which are trial strikes of both circulation and commemorative issues. The coins are stamped "prova" and issued in limited numbers, such as 5,000 out of a circulation run of some 20 million pieces.

CoinAddict

I just found an article telling a little information about Essai coins. Thanks for the help, Chuck. I appreciate it.

newsman

Interesting article.

I don't see much on the whole subject of essais and provas, and it doesn't look like there has been much attempt to catalog some issues. The Brazilian ones I have, for example, are completely unlisted in Krause, and the Central Bank website wasn't much help, either.