One of the Presentation coins from the 1863 set presented to Salmon P. Chase. Photo courtesy of David Cassel. Postage Currency patterns are as a group one of the most misunderstood of all pattern series. Research by David Cassel has found that many of the descriptions by weight, edge characteristics, and alloys listed in Judd and Pollock are inaccurate to say the least. We recommend that you refer to the 'Pattern Concordance' on this website for this year to see all the alloys which have been found by David Cassel. They are listed in the Concordance using David Cassel's decimal numbering system. David Cassel's book on Postage Currency Patterns is now available. For more on this, click here. Silver with plain edge J325/P390 45 pieces were struck on May 20, 1863. They exist in 3 weight classes, 20 grains, 22 grains and 38 grains, the latter apparently on standard dime planchets. Billon with reeded edge P393 this is not believed to exist. Billon with plain edge J326A/P394 27 pieces were struck on May 27, 1863. Copper (pure) with plain edge J326B/P396 2 have been slabbed by PCGS. The example ex Heritage 7/04, Superior 1/05 has been confirmed by David Cassel and weighs 19.7 grains. The 3 examples listed in Pollock were all tested and found to be billon not copper. Copper (pure) with reeded edge J326/P395 Only one example has been confirmed by David Cassel. Aluminum with plain edge J327/P397 16 pieces were struck on May 20, 1863 and 15 pieces were struck on May 27, 1863. These exist on both thin (8 grain) and thick (11 grain) planchets. Aluminum with reeded edge J328/P398 Only confirmed on 11 grain planchets. Tin or Tin/Copper with plain edge J329-J330/P399 39 were struck in block tin on May 20, 1863 and 15 were struck in 97% tin with 3% copper on May 27, 1863. Nickel with reeded edge J330A/P401 Only 4 or 5 are known per David Cassel. The following have been discredited per the research of David Cassel. Silver with reeded edge J325A/P391 Analysis proved this to be a J330A/P401. Silver-Aluminum alloy P392 The value of this alloy makes no sense per David Cassel and states that the Smithsonian coin listed by Pollock is probably Billon. Tin with reeded edge P400 David Cassel has found no evidence of its existence.