20 Bani - Carol I Pattern Strike

Pattern strikes for Romanian coinage in the early twentieth century were produced in limited numbers by the Monetăria Statului specifically for submission to royal or ministerial approval, and the 1905 brass trial for the 20 Bani denomination was never adopted for circulation — Romania continued striking the 20 Bani in copper-nickel through this period. The choice of brass here likely reflects experimentation with cheaper alloy options, a concern that preoccupied European minting authorities as nickel prices fluctuated before the First World War.