ABCDEFG letters, i.e. attempts to beat subenomination coins

ABCDEFG letters, i.e. attempts to beat subenomination

The Warsaw Mint, before the introduction in 1995, after denominating circulation coins, carried out a number of tests aimed at checking the correct performance, hardness or strength of stamps and discs, the quality of rating the drawing, as well as checking the machine's operation in conditions approximate to the process of producing future coins. Trial beating is usually performed in the same metals as the planned circulation coin. The purpose of this procedure is to reproduce the beating in as close as possible parameters to the future or current coin. Of course, there are also tests of coins broken in other metals, but they are a minority.

Probably, before approving the design of the current circulation coins, a technological test was made, consisting of breaking coins on the discs corresponding to all the properties of the future coin (weight, diameter and metal). These parameters were previously approved by the NBP. The mint attempts will mainly serve the preparation of production. Most of the pressing attempts on one page had the letter of the alphabet assigned, and the other sign of the Warsaw Mint. The parameters are presented below, as well as photos and a description of coins.

1. An attempt to press a 1 penny nominal coin - on the one hand of literary "A", on the other hand the image of the Mint of the Warsaw Mint (MW).

Weight: 1.64 g;

Diameter: 15.5mm;

Rant: serrated;

2. An attempt to press a 2 grosze coin - on the one hand of literary "B", on the other hand, the image of the Warsaw Mint sign (MW).

Weight: 2.13g;

Diameter: 17.5mm;

Rant: smooth;

3. An attempt to press a 5 grosze coin - on the one hand of the "C" literary, on the other hand the image of the Mint of the Warsaw Mint (MW).

Weight: 2.59g;

Diameter: 19.5mm;

Rant: smooth/ serrated;

4​

Weight: 2.51g;

Diameter: 16.5mm;

Rant: smooth/serrated

5. An attempt to press a 20 grosze coin - on the one hand of the "E" writer, on the other hand the image of the Mint of the Warsaw Mint (MW).

Weight: 3.22g;

Diameter: 18.5mm;

Rant: serrated;

6. An attempt to press a 50 grosze coin - on the one hand of the "F" literary, on the other hand the image of the Mint of the Warsaw Mint (MW).

Weight: 3.94g;

Diameter: 20.5mm;

Rant: serrated;

7. An attempt to press a coin with a denomination of 1 zloty - on the one hand of the "G" literary, on the other hand the image of the Mint of the Warsaw Mint (MW).

Weight: 5.00g;

Diameter: 23.0mm;

Rant: smooth/serrated;

8. Attempt to press a coin with a denomination of 2 zlotys - on the one hand in the inner core of Poniatowski's monogram, outer ring inscription: "Attempt to press" and the letter "A", on the other side in the inner core sign of the state mint, on the outer ring, the inscription: "Mint of State Mennica SA" together with the date "1994"

Weight: 5.21g;

Diameter: 21.0mm;

Rant: smooth;

9. Attempt to press a 5 zloty :

A. On the one hand, in the inner core of Poniatowski's monogram, outer ring inscription: "Trying of pressing" and the letter "B", on the other side in the inner core, the sign of the state mint, on the outer ring, inscription: "Mint of State Mennia SA" together with the date "1994"

Weight: 6.54g;

Diameter: 24.0mm;

Rant: miletted, irregularly;

B) On the one hand, in the inner core, Poniatowski's monogram, outer ring inscription: "Attempt to press" and the letter "B", on the other side in reversing the reverse to the obverse by about 180 degrees in the inner core, the sign of the state mint, on the outer ring, the inscription: "Mennica State SA" together with the date "1994"

Weight: 6.54g;

Diameter: 24.0mm;

Rant: miletted, irregularly;

10. Attempt to press a coin with a denomination of 2 zlotys (Nordic Gold)- on the one hand of literary "y", on the other hand the image of the Mint of Warsaw (MW) sign in a twist of about 165 degrees.

Weight: 8.00g

Diameter: 27.0mm

Edge: smooth

It can be seen that denominations from 1 penny to PLN 2 were broken without reversing the reverse to the obverse. The 5-zloty coin was already beaten in two versions: traditional and in the so-called reverse (obverse stamp inverted 180 degrees relative to the reverse). It can therefore be assumed that the issuer planned such a sample surgery to introduce a circulating reverse in later 5-zloty coins. As is well known, now all circulation coins broken in a reverse are destructures, occurring sporadically, and not coins regularly beaten in the mint.

In the attempts to press 2 and 5 zlotys, one can hypothesize that the internal core and the ring of these tests were beaten separately. Later, only folded - unlike modern circulation coins, where the internal core and the ring are first connected, and then the integrated album goes to the stamp. There is a theory that this happens because of a very loose, even mismatched core to the ring. When there was a beating of the combined coin, then under pressure from the press most of the broken numismates would be integrated, the internal core would not move and fly out. Through this process, we can also find coins with other internal cores on the numismatic market, e.g. from the denomination broken in later years and a ring of pressing. According to the author, it is "Garage work", consisting in recharging the core of the circulation coin and putting it into a technological test.

Another interesting and puzzling fact are attempts to press a 2-zloty coin 1996 Nordic Gold stamped in a twist of about 165 degrees. Here it can be assumed that this is simply a unnecessary action of the mint, which incorrectly placed the stamp, which made the coin struck in a large twist. This can be applied due to the later PLN 2 coin, which does not appear in regular emissions as a twist or a reverse. The reverse turn to the avers of these coins is a negligible percentage and is included in very rare destructes.

All technological tests discussed can be intriguing here. We can only presume that in some cases only unique, individual numismats have survived, and in others - e.g. an attempt to press 5 zlotys (broken without reversal), which occurs several times a year at auctions - a dozen or even several dozen pieces could behave, which makes them a rare occasion. And the brother struck in the reverse will be a great rarity.

Due to insufficient evidence, one more trial coin was not described, on which on the one hand there is the letter "X", on the other there is an image of the Warsaw Mint stamped in a twist of about 270 degrees. One trial coin is defective in PCGS grading, where it was described as an attempt to press a 1 penny nominal coin. The diameter was approximate, but the metal, weight and edge of the coin, which is smooth here, do not indicate that it was a trial beating of a penny coin. The author believes that this is an attempt to beat the coin of 5 zlotys. Unfortunately, until there is other evidence, you have to support the knowledge of American graders from PCGS.

To sum up, as of today, only the above -mentioned attempts to beat subenomination coins are known. Perhaps there were many more of them, perhaps they were performed for, for example, a 2-zloty coin (beaten in 1995-Miedzionikiel), or collector coins of PLN 10 or 20? The question is whether any of them remained open. Certainly a large group of collectors values ​​this type of coins, but certainly with an increase in knowledge will arrive willing to have those who want to have these unique people in the collection or treat them as a good investment.

Thank you for reading, Dariusz Płócieniczak