From Susan Headley,
Your Guide to Coins.
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Definition: A pattern coin is a coin that has been created as an example, and is not meant for circulation. Pattern coins have been created for a variety of reasons, including sample coins for VIPs (such as congressmen voting on coin legislation), and for testing various designs and die cuts in the mint equipment.

Examples: If someone wants to collect pattern coins, they'd better have very deep pockets, because patterns, by their nature, are quite rare!