Definition

• Test Coin.  A production test piece.  When a new design, modified design or new alloy is ready for use, a Mint will make a test run of the coins to make sure the dies perform as expected under planned working conditions. These coins are sometimes called “test coins” although they are better described as “production test pieces.” Production tests usually include several hundred thousand to a million pieces. If everything is satisfactory, the production test pieces might be delivered to the Cashier, ultimately to be placed into circulation..This was done with low relief Peace dollars in February 1922.
  In 1965 the Philadelphia Mint created a Martha Washington Test Coin, by engraver Edward R. Grove, to test a new alloy. The Mint struck these with existing Mint equipment without using production dies so they employed the Martha Washington design. Further production test pieces were struck at Philadelphia and Denver from circulation dies in large quantities.
  . Other excellent examples are the test coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1995 in which they proved an innovative use of bimetal composition.  See also nonsense die.

  excerpted with permission from

  An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

  For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

  COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

  Roger W. Burdette, Editor

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