"Lack of money is the root of all evil.""Paper is poverty,... it is only the ghost of money, and not money itself.""Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.""Never be haughty to the humble; never be humble to the haughty.""Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it."
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)Thomas JeffersonGeorge WashingtonJefferson DavisThomas Jefferson
November 23, 2023
A Pattern or Prototype Coins Selection
Hello All,
I thought we would touch upon a slightly more esoteric area of numismatics, one that Tom has had extensive experience, going back decades and was listed in Andrew Pollack III's magnum opus, United States Patterns and Related Issues Encyclopedia of United States Pattern and Related Issues 1995, a giant encyclopedia of these great rarities spanning over 500 pages.
Pattern coins or simply Patterns were prototype coins, an idea from the mint or an idea from other people who had the power to have artists, mint masters etc give them an idea of what could become a new version of a current denomination of coin or even an idea of a potentially new denomination. Some became a reality, most did not. Some were struck in other metals such as copper, silver, white metal and others while some were nearly identical to the approved designs that indeed were approved and ultimately became the workhorses of American (and other countries) society and commerce.
Open for me your cabinet of Patterns, and I open for you a Record, which, but for these half-forgotten witnesses, would have disappeared under the finger of time, Patterson DuBois 1883. That was a long time ago 1883 and advanced numismatists then while most were collecting more mainstream of the day coins, there were a few who also gravitated toward what is perhaps one of the most exotic as well as esoteric areas of numismatics, one which, from an investment standpoint in the mind of the writer, can find few equals. This week we present to you a few of the fantastic patterns that were made, of which very few exist today.
Please enjoy the following and note that these represent but a portion of the Pattern coins we can offer, and trust that we/Tom has helped other collectors develop collections consisting of pattern coins way back when Morgan Dollar Half dollars were a fraction of today's value when nobody knew about them. These Morgan design rarities are (identical to the actual Morgan Silver dollar but struck as a half dollar while also being a dime, and others were also presented, for example, but not approved; hence, the ones that are known to exist today are the only ones that were made and quite desirable! These Morgan Half Dollars were only a couple of thousand dollars each, and few coin dealers even knew what they were. Now those same coins are worth tens of thousands of dollars and are prized by specialists, advanced collectors, and investors. These coins can be among the most prized of all numismatics
When you see a rare coin of interest, please click to request images and to temporarily reserve the coin, giving yourself a little time to review the images that we'll send you and communicate with us, or even utilize our new buy it now link which, we admit, is in the beginning stages of e-commerce and may have some bugs....
Please also note that these are just some selections from the vast inventory of really great rare coins we have to offer. If you do not see what you are looking for on our website, send us an email or give us a call because if it's a really rare coin, chances are we have a lead on one for you or have it in the safe!
Please contact me as soon as possible as this is a very healthy rare coin market.
Don't hesitate to share your Want List items; we are adept at filling them, and we're discreet.
We wish you and your family continued health & prosperity.
Tom Pilitowski, US Rare Coin Investments is a Rare Coin Dealer, Gold Coin Dealer specializing in Rare Coins, Gold Coins and Silver Coins since 1979. Tom Pilitowski has been involved in coin collecting since childhood. There are virtually no areas of American numismatics that Mr. Pilitowski has not explored, or has had experience in and over the years, Mr. Pilitowski has been successful in not only surrounding himself in the most astute and influential circles of coin traders, numismatists, collectors and investors but became one, who is looked upon by some of the most astute buyers as a source of knowledge, information and inventory acquisitions.
P.S. Remember, we are a small company with specialties, some of which were considered highly esoteric decades ago when I started studying and doing business we have honed over decades, who cherry picks millions of dollars in rare coins to offer you. Some of these very same numismatic specimens are today worth many times what they once were when only a few of us were as deeply involved with them as I was and still am decades later I promise you confidential, personalized and expert representation of the highest integrity. Buy and sell with confidence.
