What is "ESSAI"

mbogoman

I have four coins from Namibia, all dated 1995. Three are to commemorate the Miss Universe Pageant ($1 Gemsbok, $10 Leopard, $100 Lions) that was held in Namibia that year, the other is a $100 Sand Dunes to commemorate the 5th year of independence. They all have "ESSAI" in small letters stamped on the reverse. What does ESSAI mean? Does it indicate that the coin is a pattern or test strike?

FYI - The regular issues of these coins were in either cupro-nickel or sterling silver (I have a couple of them), but these ESSAI coins are in a copper/light gold colored metal.

7Jaguars

That would be "test" in French and are usually from the French world of coins but there are obviously exceptions....Kind of like a test proof strike and a way to sell more coins to poor collectors...

theboz11

Prior discussion

mbogoman

Well I picked them up for next to nothing, so I'm not worried about being taken on them. Just curious...

And thanks for your input everyone!

thisnamztaken

I equate it with a pattern coin.