Which patterns are more interesting? Informal poll.

CaptHenway · June 30, 2013 12:56AM

Not going to keep track of results, but as a rule, which patterns are more interesting to you, the ones that were close to an adopted design (such as the Morgan dollar with three leaves on the branch, or the 1882 Liberty nickel variations) or something boldly different, such as William Barber's 1876 Sailor Head dollar (the one without stars or legend being my personal favorite), or the intricate 1877 half dollar patterns?

TD

Edited to add: Pictures welcome!

MrHalfDime · June 30, 2013 1:00AM

To me there is no question. The most interesting patterns, by far, are the boldly different patterns. If a pattern looks essentially like the adopted design, it typically holds little intrigue for me. But if the design of a pattern is radically different from anything ever issued for circulation, it is infinitely more interesting.

Ed62 · June 30, 2013 1:01AM

The biggest, shiniest and most beautiful:

Ed62 · June 30, 2013 1:25AM

Or the reddest:

Or the most arrogant motto: 1867 - 'Union and Liberty'

BillJones · June 30, 2013 1:52AM

I'll take the boldly different patterns. Here is the only true pattern that is in my collection. Since I enjoy collecting gold dollars, this first one from 1836 is a natural for me.

SmEagle1795 · June 30, 2013 1:55AM

The holed gold dollars struck in gold are my favorites by a landslide.

BillJones · June 30, 2013 1:58AM

<< The holed gold dollars struck in gold are my favorites by a landslide. >>

I'd like to have one of those too, but the last one that came up at auction, which was in an off-metal, not gold, was over graded and sold for double what it was worth IMO.

Catbert · June 30, 2013 2:02AM

Here's a vote for the Liberty nickels. I've always found this version particularly attractive and wished I owned one:

keyman64 · June 30, 2013 2:21AM

There are some nice ones in here, keep them coming!

BillJones · June 30, 2013 2:25AM

<< Here's a vote for the Liberty nickels. I've always found this version particularly attractive and wished I owned one:

>>

That design is definitely more attractive than the one that appeared upon the regular issue coin. The trouble is I question how mint could have mass produced it given the extensive problems they had with striking copper-nickel right up until fairly recent times. Remember how the reverse of the Jefferson nickel was flattened to look like a trolley car because the mint claimed they could not mass produce the original three-quarters view of Monticello? The adopted design of Monticello was so bland that the it was found necessary to spell out the name of the building across the bottom of it.

boiler78 · June 30, 2013 2:42AM

Bill- The J561 was intended to be struck in aluminum as a replacement for nickel. I really like that design. Here's mine

I am also a big fan of the 1877 half dollar patterns.

yellowkid · June 30, 2013 3:08AM

<< To me there is no question. The most interesting patterns, by far, are the boldly different patterns. If a pattern looks essentially like the adopted design, it typically holds little intrigue for me. But if the design of a pattern is radically different from anything ever issued for circulation, it is infinitely more interesting. >>

Moldnut · June 30, 2013 3:32AM

I think this is way cool.

crypto79 · June 30, 2013 3:38AM

I have always preferred the one off date coins of the regular design, 1858 INC , 1882 nickels and the like all the way to the 1849 double eagle

northcoin · June 30, 2013 3:42AM

<< I think this is way cool.

>>

Agreed. Could you add a little more info and/or history? Was it an alternative to the eventual 1916 Type One Standing Liberty Quarter or an intended Standing Liberty of another denomination?

tradedollarnut · June 30, 2013 3:42AM

Personally, I prefer the off metal coins of the regular design ... tho beautiful and important pieces such as J-1776 float my boat as well.

mgoodm3 · June 30, 2013 4:04AM

I kinda like the ones that use a known design on a different denomination: i.e. Morgan dime.

johnny9434 · June 30, 2013 6:11AM

<< Or the reddest:

Or the most arrogant motto: 1865 - 'Union and Liberty'

>>

i could get used of these real quick

CaptHenway · June 30, 2013 10:13AM

<< I think this is way cool.

>>

I love the eagle in the center of the shield.

Bayard1908 · June 30, 2013 10:54AM

<< I have always preferred the one off date coins of the regular design, 1858 INC , 1882 nickels and the like all the way to the 1849 double eagle >>

Bayard1908 · June 30, 2013 10:55AM

<< Personally, I prefer the off metal coins of the regular design ... tho beautiful and important pieces such as J-1776 float my boat as well. >>

We used to call those die trials instead of patterns.

Zoins · June 30, 2013 11:09AM

<< 

<< Personally, I prefer the off metal coins of the regular design ... tho beautiful and important pieces such as J-1776 float my boat as well. >>

We used to call those die trials instead of patterns. >>

Actually, a lot of those are numismatic delicacies or pieces de caprice - not die trials.

Weiss · June 30, 2013 11:11AM

The more bizarre the better. The 10,000 different varieties of IHCs and Liberty nickels bore me to tears. Give me the half union or the holey trials.

Bayard1908 · June 30, 2013 11:13AM

<< 

<< 

<< Personally, I prefer the off metal coins of the regular design ... tho beautiful and important pieces such as J-1776 float my boat as well. >>

We used to call those die trials instead of patterns. >>

Actually, a lot of those are numismatic delicacies or pieces de caprice - not die trials. >>

No offense intended; but, that is common knowledge.

Zoins · June 30, 2013 11:16AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Personally, I prefer the off metal coins of the regular design ... tho beautiful and important pieces such as J-1776 float my boat as well. >>

We used to call those die trials instead of patterns. >>

Actually, a lot of those are numismatic delicacies or pieces de caprice - not die trials. >>

No offense intended; but, that is common knowledge. >>

No offense taken. That information is from the Harry Bass Foundation. It'd be good to know if they have it wrong.

<< Numismatic delicacies, called pieces de caprice by numismatic historian Don Taxay, comprise the largest category in the pattern series. In a phrase these are pieces made not to illustrate unusual metallic compositions or new designs or some other forward-thinking concept of mintage, but, instead, to provide rarities for sale to the collector trade. These coins include strikings of gold denomination dies and other metals such as copper and aluminum, the illogical combining of dies not intended for each other (such as a two-headed half dollar pattern of 1859), the extensive Standard Silver coinage of 1869 and later (which was made with plain edges and reeded edges, and in metals including silver, copper, and aluminum), etc. >>

Bayard1908 · June 30, 2013 11:23AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Personally, I prefer the off metal coins of the regular design ... tho beautiful and important pieces such as J-1776 float my boat as well. >>

We used to call those die trials instead of patterns. >>

Actually, a lot of those are numismatic delicacies or pieces de caprice - not die trials. >>

No offense intended; but, that is common knowledge. >>

No offense taken. That information is from the Harry Bass Foundation. It'd be good to know if they have it wrong.

<< Numismatic delicacies, called pieces de caprice by numismatic historian Don Taxay, comprise the largest category in the pattern series. In a phrase these are pieces made not to illustrate unusual metallic compositions or new designs or some other forward-thinking concept of mintage, but, instead, to provide rarities for sale to the collector trade. These coins include strikings of gold denomination dies and other metals such as copper and aluminum, the illogical combining of dies not intended for each other (such as a two-headed half dollar pattern of 1859), the extensive Standard Silver coinage of 1869 and later (which was made with plain edges and reeded edges, and in metals including silver, copper, and aluminum), etc. >>

>>

I can't remember where I saw it; however, I read a letter to the editor or article in a 19th Century coin publication. This letter or article ridiculed the mint for offering "pattern" coins produced strictly for collector demand and deliberately made in numerous minor variations. I believe it sarcastically suggested that some coins be struck in chocolate.

Zoins · June 30, 2013 11:32AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Personally, I prefer the off metal coins of the regular design ... tho beautiful and important pieces such as J-1776 float my boat as well. >>

We used to call those die trials instead of patterns. >>

Actually, a lot of those are numismatic delicacies or pieces de caprice - not die trials. >>

No offense intended; but, that is common knowledge. >>

No offense taken. That information is from the Harry Bass Foundation. It'd be good to know if they have it wrong.

<< Numismatic delicacies, called pieces de caprice by numismatic historian Don Taxay, comprise the largest category in the pattern series. In a phrase these are pieces made not to illustrate unusual metallic compositions or new designs or some other forward-thinking concept of mintage, but, instead, to provide rarities for sale to the collector trade. These coins include strikings of gold denomination dies and other metals such as copper and aluminum, the illogical combining of dies not intended for each other (such as a two-headed half dollar pattern of 1859), the extensive Standard Silver coinage of 1869 and later (which was made with plain edges and reeded edges, and in metals including silver, copper, and aluminum), etc. >>

>>

I can't remember where I saw it; however, I read a letter to the editor or article in a 19th Century coin publication. This letter or article ridiculed the mint for offering "pattern" coins produced strictly for collector demand and deliberately made in numerous minor variations. I believe it sarcastically suggested that some coins be struck in chocolate. >>

Commemoratives made a come back in 1982 after a similar issue. I wonder if the Mint would ever consider making numismatic delicacies again?

CaptHenway · June 30, 2013 11:45AM

Was looking at the Bass patterns on display in the ANA Museum just the other day. Some mighty fine stuff there!

DUIGUY · June 30, 2013 1:43PM

These float my boat;
NeN's pics

MidLifeCrisis · June 30, 2013 1:50PM

If I collected patterns, they would have to be boldly different.

mdwoods · June 30, 2013 1:57PM

I really like the 25 cent and higher denomination patterns struck in copper. There's just something about them.

Shamika · June 30, 2013 2:03PM

I don't collect patterns, but I personally prefer the designs that are totally different than anything adopted. I really like some of the crazy holed patterns.

Ed62 · June 30, 2013 10:02PM

"I really like some of the crazy holed patterns"

SaorAlba · July 1, 2013 12:43AM

A retro design pattern that used the old large cent obverse and is the same diameter of the large cent but dated 11 years after large cents were last struck:

The only pattern I currently own and one I had wanted since I was a kid and read about them.

Type2 · July 1, 2013 12:56AM

Interesting may be not but i like them.

Which patterns are more interesting? Informal poll.

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