Patterns ????????????

Bigern · June 26, 2003 6:51AM

What are they or what is it? I dont know if its a type or a series. I seen the write ups on type sets and wondered what patterns were?

Bigern

kranky · June 26, 2003 7:24AM

Patterns refer to coins made with designs that were never officially issued. They also refer to coins that do have the officially adopted designs but are dated prior to the first year they were made for circulation (like an 1858 Indian Head cent). The Mint prepared many, many designs and struck a number of examples, but for any number of reasons the designs never were issued for circulation.

Check out uspatterns.com for a wealth of information on the subject.

Conder101 · June 26, 2003 7:26AM

Check out www.uspatterns.com

ohbaby · June 26, 2003 8:05AM

Along the same lines...how did patterns get into circulation and/or collector hands? I would think the mint would avoid intentionally creating a rarity.

sinin1 · June 26, 2003 10:34AM

sometimes they gave them to members of congress or other dignitaries - the 1856 small cent is an example of that.

Mark · June 26, 2003 11:06AM

ohbaby:

Some patterns actually were sold to collectors. For isntance, there are 11 pattern cents of 1858 that were sold, together with a regular issue cent of 1858, to collectors. In addition, the "standard series" of pattern dimes, quarters, and halves were sold to collectors in 1869 and 1870. The standard series comprises about a million (OK, slight exaggeration--it's probably about 150 or so ) of coins that differ according to design, composition (silver, copper, and aluminum), and edge treatment (smooth or reeded). So each design has six types: 2 silver (one with a plain edge, another with a reeded edge), 2 copper (ditto for the edge treatments), and 2 aluminum (again ditto the edge treatments).

There maight be other issues that were sold legally to collectors, but I don't recall any at the present time. Other board members probably know for sure.

Mark

Conder101 · June 26, 2003 11:39AM

attern coins wer often sold by the mint to collector that simply asked to purchase them. Of course it helped if you had a friend on the inside. There is even a letter from the Philadelphia superintendant to the director in Washington stating that they were constantly being approached by the "collectors of coins" requesting rare dates and patterns. He also stated that the old dies being onhand these requests had been in every case been accomodated. This would seem to indicate that the mint restruck and sold patterns to the collecting pubic upon request.

Bigern · June 26, 2003 11:26PM

Does a Modern prototype coin, not the word I was looking for, design qualify as a "Pattern"? Say for instance the 3 or 4 designs that were made for the Statue of Liberty commemorative.

Bigern

RKKay · June 26, 2003 11:31PM

Hey, Conder, how can one get a copy of that letter?

MrEureka · June 27, 2003 1:31AM

Does a Modern prototype coin, not the word I was looking for, design qualify as a "Pattern"? Say for instance the 3 or 4 designs that were made for the Statue of Liberty commemorative.

I presume you are talking about things like these.

Those would be referred to as "private patterns". They are obviously far less desirable than patterns struck by an official Mint.

cosmicdebris · June 27, 2003 1:36AM

Coin in sig is a German Pattern.

Conder101 · June 27, 2003 4:27AM

I was paraphrasing the letter from memory without going and looking it up. You probably already know the letter but anyway, it is from the General Correspondance File, Box 78, Record Group 104 National Archives and reads as follows:

Mint of the United States
Philadelphia Jan 22, 1859

Sir,

We are daily pressed upon, by Collectors of Coins from all parts of the country either by letter or in person, for specimens of pattern pieces of coin, and rare types. A few of these having been in every case issued, - some of them got into the hands of dealers and are sold at excessive prices. I propose, with your approbation, to check this traffic, and at the same time to gratify a taste which has lately greatly increased in this country, and seems to be increasing every day, namely, by striking some of each kind and affixing a price to them, so that the profits may enure to the benefit of the Mint Cabinet of Coins and ores which is the property of the U. States; an exact account of which will be kept and rendered to the Department.

I have the honor to be
with great respect
Your faithful servant

James Ross Snowden
Director of the Mint

To the Hon - Howell Cobb
Sec. - of the Tresury
Washington City

RKKay · June 27, 2003 4:40AM

Thanks.

MrEureka · June 27, 2003 4:47AM

We are daily pressed upon, by Collectors of Coins from all parts of the country either by letter or in person, for specimens of pattern pieces of coin, and rare types. A few of these having been in every case issued, - some of them got into the hands of dealers and are sold at excessive prices. I propose, with your approbation, to check this traffic, and at the same time to gratify a taste which has lately greatly increased in this country, and seems to be increasing every day, namely, by striking some of each kind and affixing a price to them, so that the profits may enure to the benefit of the Mint Cabinet of Coins and ores which is the property of the U. States; an exact account of which will be kept and rendered to the Department.

Conder101 - By any chance do you also have an order form for patterns and would you mind faxing it to me?

oreville · June 27, 2003 5:11AM

MrEureka: Your request:

<< <i>Conder101 - By any chance do you also have an order form for patterns and would you mind faxing it to me? >>

If you decide to order more patterns add one for me too!

Conder101 · June 27, 2003 6:07AM

Don't need an order form, just send your request in writing to the mint c/o James R Snowden Director.

Oh, and the payment wil probably be the face value plus 2 to 8 cents proofing charge, payable in gold coin.

Patterns ????????????

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