EXPERIMENTAL & PATTERN COINS OF INDIA

Figure 1, view larger image

A Pattern or Experimental Coins of India

A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, but produced for experiment and further 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. Most of the coins in the modern coinage has stamped "EXP" or "EXPT" or "EXPTL" to recognize as experimental coins.

These were often produced during final stage of the pattern process, used to present the newly adopted design to the public.

Republic of India has 2 distinct set of pattern coins, the first set was created after Independence in 1949 which weren't approved and the second were before the new decimal coinage series adopted in the year 1957.

The coins are minted to check quality of the die and coins in reality to know how the designs are minted and vet-out any manufacturing issues.

Some of them has been mentioned below:-

• 1949 Pattern Coins by Patrick Brindley

1956 Pattern Coins

• 1960 One Rupee Pattern Coin

• 1977 5 Paise Experimental Coin

• 1982 Rs 2 Asian Games Experimental Coin

• 1983 Re 1 Experimental Coin

• 1984 Rs 2 Experimental Coin

• 1986 New Steel Coins of 50, 25 and 10 Paise

• 1987 New Steel Coins of 10 Paise

• 1993 Rs 2 Experimental Coin

• 2003 Rs 5 Nickel-Brass Pattern

• 2004 Rs 10 Experimental Coin

• 2004 Rs 5 Mudra Series Pattern in Bi-Metallic

2004 Rs 10 Brahmos Missile in Bi-Metallic

• 2005 Rs 5 Experimental Coin on 75 Years of Dandi March

• 2010 Re 1 and Rs 2 Experimental Coin

2014 Rs 2 Braille Pattern Coin

• 2014 Rs 2 with Hole Experimental Coin

These coins are exclusively for mint's internal purpose and aren't for trade, but somehow these coins gets smuggled out from mint premises and are sold to collectors at premium price. It's illegal to posses such coins and collecting these may attract legal trouble.