Smithsonian coin collection research visit
RogerB
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A recent research visit to the Smithsonian Institution National Numismatic Collection produced some interesting data and photos of pieces made by International Nickel Co. (Inco) in 1964. Here’s an example of the company’s first test design, called, obviously, the Test Piece design. (The format is for use in a future article on the subject of experimental "private pattern coins" made by Inco prior to the approval of clad coinage. Writer's photo.)
Test Pieces were made only for Inco internal use at their Bayonne, NJ lab, and not distributed outside the company. These were reportedly made in a bewildering array of pure metals, alloys and laminates (clad), only some of which are known today. These are generally R-7 or R-8 (unique).
Anyone with some in their collection please PM me, as this research is in progress.
Comments
PS: If anyone out there purchased the Eva Adams pieces in 1994, please contact me.
Also --- the US quarter is 24.26 mm in diameter and this is what was claimed in published articles about the Inco pieces; however, actual measurements cluster around 24.35 mm.
Interesting. I've never heard of these, but I'll bump the thread in hopes of getting some conversation started.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Thanks Roger... these are interesting, even if they never became coins. That being said, they are part of numismatic history since the trials 'could' have resulted in actual coins. Cheers, RickO
Also, see post "Additional 1964-65 “private pattern coin” research" for related information.
Isn't the copper strike rare?
Yep; R-7 Extremely rare (2-8) -- but all Test Piece design examples are represented by less than 75 pieces over all varieties. Most are only 2 or 3 known, and some are unique.
A vault find in the museum? If so it must have just been put on display. I went and ran out of energy about the time I had to come back to the land of the great flood but thankfully I stayed high and dry.
Putting these three posts near each other in hopes of learning about some new specimens of private patterns.