Ever heard of a U.S. Mint pattern coin?

[Don Lewis]

This one is the first year the Morgan Dollar was made. It looks very similar but if you look closely and compare it to a Morgan silver dollar there’s quite a few distinct differences. Can you see them? I’d say the condition of this one is extra fine maybe a little better. This is the first pattern coin I ever found.

 

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[cudamark]

This one is the first year the Morgan Dollar was made. It looks very similar but if you look closely and compare it to a Morgan silver dollar there’s quite a few distinct differences. Can you see them? I’d say the condition of this one is extra fine maybe a little better. This is the first pattern coin I ever found.

Lots of differences, mostly the reverse where the eagle wings are in a totally different pose. also the "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum" is swapped from obverse to reverse.

 

[cudamark]

No wreath on the reverse either.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Those old coins were so beautiful !

 

[Marino13]

Those old coins were so beautiful !

I agree. 👍

 

[Don Lewis]

Lots of differences, mostly the reverse where the eagle wings are in a totally different pose. also the "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum" is swapped from obverse to reverse.

Good eye!👍

 

[camichael]

I've heard of pattern coins but not familar with their value? I assume they bring a premium. What do you value it at?

 

[Don Lewis]

I've heard of pattern coins but not familar with their value? I assume they bring a premium. What do you value it at?

Yes there value is much higher then just a common coin. Not all numismatists collect pattern coins because of their premium value, but just like anything else it’s only worth what somebody is willing to pay for it.

 

[Don Lewis]

Yes there value is much higher then just a common coin. Not all numismatists collect pattern coins because of their premium value, but just like anything else it’s only worth what somebody is willing to pay for it.

Not always easy to put a price on something like this. Because a lot less were made of them. Then common coins in circulation.

 

[l.cutler]

Almost every coin design had various patterns that differed from the adopted design. They certainly have value, but bear in mind that they are also very heavily counterfeited by the Chinese coin mills. For every genuine coin, there are thousands of fakes. Steps you can take yourself would be to weight it, it should weigh the same as a standard Morgan Dollar, and have it XRF tested for metal content.

 

[Don Lewis]

Those old coins were so beautiful !

Yes sir. I agree. These pattern coins are rarer because they only produced a very small amount of them.

 

[Don Lewis]

Lots of differences, mostly the reverse where the eagle wings are in a totally different pose. also the "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum" is swapped from obverse to reverse.

These many differences. Is exactly what makes it a pattern coin. They made several different versions until they were happy with one design. Finally to make it America’s silver dollar coin. Pretty cool history on America’s pattern coins.

 

[sprailroad]

So...were they put into circulation by accident or??

 

[Bucket Lister]

Fascinating. 🤨

Steps you can take yourself would be to weight it, it should weigh the same as a standard Morgan Dollar,

According to Wiki: (Good starting point article)

A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, but produced to evaluate a proposed coin design. They are often off-metal strike (using metals of lower value to test out the dies), to proof standard or piedforts.

..so I'm not sure weighing would necessarily be proof positive.

 

[unclemac]

such a pattern coin would sell for 10's of thousands if legit. China is preproducing a lot of stuff these days, even coins only worth a few hundreds.

 

[Don Lewis]

So...were they put into circulation by accident or??

Some probably gotten into circulation by accident. Then others were given away as gifts from the US mint.

 

[Don Lewis]

Fascinating. 🤨

According to Wiki: (Good starting point article)

..so I'm not sure weighing would necessarily be proof positive.

It weighs the same as a Silver dollar. First thing I checked. Also a magnet doesn’t stick to it.

 

[Don Lewis]

So...were they put into circulation by accident or??

Some were probably putting into circulation by accident. Others were given away as gifts from the US mint.

 

[Don Lewis]

Almost every coin design had various patterns that differed from the adopted design. They certainly have value, but bear in mind that they are also very heavily counterfeited by the Chinese coin mills. For every genuine coin, there are thousands of fakes. Steps you can take yourself would be to weight it, it should weigh the same as a standard Morgan Dollar, and have it XRF tested for metal content.

You are correct. Most things that are valuable have been counterfeited not just money. This one does weigh the same as a silver dollar.

 

[Bucket Lister]

It weighs the same as a Silver dollar. First thing I checked. Also a magnet doesn’t stick to it.

That may be meaningless. The article says that they are often struck from metals of lower value, so I wouldn't necessarily expect a genuine pattern coin to weigh the same as silver. A counterfeiter may or may not know that, so may make the weight equal to silver (considering the increased value and scrutiny).

If it were me, I'd want more specific/detailed information about that particular issue (in order to verify), a solid coin provenance, and certification from one or more of the recognized services. If the coin is genuine, IMO, it'd be worth the fees.