Are patterns considered exonumia?
Zoins
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In the general categories of coins and exonumia, where do patterns fit?
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They are coins (or at least proposed coins).
According to Wikipedia, "The words exonumist and exonumia were coined in July 1960 by Russell Rulau, a recognized authority and author on the subject, and accepted by Webster's dictionary in 1965."
Merriam-Webster.com defines exonumia as "numismatic items (as tokens, medals, or scrip) other than coins and paper money."
Whether a pattern is considered a coin may depend upon whether it has status as legal tender. In other words, could you spend one? If not, patterns may very well be (strictly speaking) exonumia, although most numismatists probably consider them to be coins.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
They are considered along with other official products of the US Mints. Privately made "patterns" or "prototypes" are exonoumia unless they can be shown to have official sanction.
This doesn't make sense. US Mint medals are official products of the US Mint, but they are considered exonumia.
Also, privately made "patterns" are not really patterns at all. They are fantasies by definition.
True. But medals are not coins or coin-like, except..... well, there are so many exceptions maybe there isn't a rule. Some privately made items are legitimate, officially-sanctioned experiments -- note the 1911-1912 Buffalo nickel electrotypes made at the request of the Secretary of Treasury.
Pure medals (intended to be medals) shouldn't be included as coins.
There are many privately made patterns that are officially sanctioned by the Mint and not fantasies. Many of these are privately made using Mint provided dies though some use privately made dies as well. Many of them are cataloged in Pollock and a few in Judd. One example is the 1942 glass cent pattern by the Blue Ridge Glass Company .
If a piece has official sanction, then it can't be a "fantasy."
So which category would you ascribe to the glass pattern cents recently discussed @RWB?
They were officially sanctioned and used dies provided by the US Mint. That clearly makes all of the 1942 pattern and experimental pieces part of the legitimate series - not fantasy pieces or exonumia.
I'm having a hard time coming up with a case where the answer to the question would affect anything.
eBay has patterns and exonumia in different categories.
I'm pretty sure that I've submitted a pattern or two on a "tokens and medals" submission to a TPG, and had them graded (as patterns) without comment that they should have been on a "US Coins" submission instead.
For paperwork or auctions the divisions can serve those running the show.
Officially, I'd place coin patterns and trials made for or by the gub'mint as not exonumia due to their coin relationship.
Medal patterns & trials -> exonumia.