The Use Of The Word "Pattern" Instead Of Fantasy Or Replica

IB, some have sold for a bit more than $11 particularly the silver ones. Reported mintage is 450-750.



Purely from a technical standpoint, these pieces have been nicely produced. The proofs are almost as good as what the RCM releases for collectors. The brass samples are closer to the RCM Specimen coins; brilliant and frosted relief on a lined finish background.

Those patina "patterns" do not have any denomination.

Some background info here http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php...topic=14833:

"Initiated in 1999 there was an idea to produce an official series of six legal tender Millennial coins for a Commonwealth country, like the Solomon Islands or Zambia, which would feature the six monarchs of the twentieth century; Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II. British Sculptor Donald R. Golder completed the task of sculpting twenty Royal portraits, which were inspired by contemporary coinage models.

The envisaged six-coin series never came to fruition, but two of Golder's royal portraits were eventually featured on the 2001 Zambia coinage set which commemorates the death of Victoria and the accession of Edward VII in 1901.

A parallel series of modern high quality unofficial "retrospective patterns" for Great Britain, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, New Zealand, South Africa, and Southern Rhodesia have been produced using all of Golder's modern obverse portraits, coupled with modern reverses which are based on old designs. All the unofficial pieces offered in this part of the sale have therefore been struck in the years 2000-2001.

A.G. Wyon's original model for the reverse of the 1910 Pattern crown, has been used to inspire some unofficial "pattern crowns" for George V and Edward VII. William Wyon's "Three Graces" design, personifying Ireland, England and Scotland, has been the inspiration for a quantity of modern Victorian "patterns".

There is a modern "wreath crown" of Edward VIII featuring a new version of Kruger Gray's popular reverse motif and several modern "patterns" for Ireland, which emulate those of Reginald Huth."

This is the real problem. ebay has a category for these fantasy "things" and unfortunately sellers tend to pick categories that offer the most traffic, such as Canadian Dollars.

The description can also be misleading to the novice collector in thinking this is somehow comparable to the "real" patterns made by the mint. Technically, patterns are produced for the purpose of evaluating a proposed coin design. Clearly, fantasy coins were not meant to circulate so describing them as "pattern" is incorrect.

The best is to report the item to ebay that it is misleading or in the wrong category.

Come on crf. Counterfeiting is totally different and you know it.

The real counterfeiting is much more subtle.

Those Spink auctions are illegal in Canada? I did not realize this.

I have these two Zambian coins, they're very beautiful. The best Eddy's portrait in my collection!

Fortunately, the RCMP are not really responsible for interpreting law, merely enforcing it. We have a judicial system that takes on that job.

I'll get right on it. Hold your breath.

Cops are cops, lawyers are lawyers, while I prefer cops, lawyers need their chance too I suppose. (judges are lawyers last time I looked).

So I came across an ICCS certifed 1901 version of one of these coins. It was a 1901, with Edward VII on it. Not sure why they would certify one, but there you have it.