Is this a Brussels trial pattern coin or not?

[bobh]

Hi,

 

I am from Belgium, so if you need some questions to be asked to the mint in the native languages of Belgium (Dutch & French), I can always help out.

 

I'm not that familiar with Russian coinage, but I'm always interested in reading about rare coins, also patterns and trial strikes. That's why I landed in this thread.

 

Regards,

 

Jos

Thank you, Jos.

Do you know perhaps how one could find the Belgian mint reports for 1897/98?

[belg_jos]

Thank you, Jos.

Do you know perhaps how one could find the Belgian mint reports for 1897/98?

 

I will try to find out.

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Regards

 

Jos

[JamesBaker]

I have an 1899 rouble that has those odd looking (birdies?) on the rim. I never really paid much attention to them though.

[IgorS]

To keep my promise, here is a scan of the 1897 rouble's edge.

[bobh]

To keep my promise, here is a scan of the 1897 rouble's edge.

Thank you, IgorS.

[bobh]

I have an 1899 rouble that has those odd looking (birdies?) on the rim. I never really paid much attention to them though.

This is very interesting because those "trial pattern" coins were supposedly made only in 1897. If similar ones exist for later years, it would indicate (or perhaps prove) that these "birdies" or ticks are merely a special kind of error coin resulting from broken stars on the edging device.

[bobh]

Here's one being offered on eBay right now:

 

1897-** rouble with two ticks (or birdies) on the edge -- ???

 

Coin is in terrible condition, though -- lots of wear, and there are ugly file test marks on it. The edge of the coin in the last N.Y. Sale, which I attempted to photograph in Basel, looked quite similar to this one.

 

What do you think??