Pattern coin
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A pattern coin is a coin produced for the purpose of evaluating a proposed coin design, but which was not approved for general circulation. Generally, these coins are of interest only to collectors of pattern coins. However, pattern coins that are later selected for normal production, such as the United States 1856 Flying Eagle cent, can sometimes become sought after by other coin collectors.
Pattern coins of France and of French-speaking countries such as Monaco are described by the French term essai. The essai coins of the New Hebrides are of interest to collectors of Commonwealth of Nations coinage, as the New Hebrides became independent in 1980 as the Republic of Vanuatu.
The word 'Essai' is found inscribed on the pattern coins of Namibia along with the word Probe.
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