Pattern coin

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A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, but produced to evaluate a proposed coin design.^[1] They are often off-metal strike (using metals of lower value to test out the dies), to proof standard or piedforts. Many coin collectors collect and study pattern coins because of their historical importance. Many of the world's most valuable coins are pattern coins; nearly 25 of the pieces listed in 100 Greatest US Coins are pattern coins.^[2]