Normally, they are rarer, with some notable exceptions when regular issue coins were issued in extremely small numbers. Patterns - A pattern is essentially the result of a mint test. The mint has made coins as part of testing equipment, different metals and sometimes as approval pieces. Prior to this century, these patterns were often given away or sold by the mint and legitimately worked their way into the collector market. Commemoratives - These coins were produced for collectors.
Most commemoratives are half dollars.
There was a commemorative quarter in 1893, and the circulating Bicentennial Commemoratives in the quarter, half and dollar denominations in 1976. Bullion - These coins are all relatively recent. They were first made in 1986. These include the Walking Liberty Silver Dollar and several gold issues. All gold coins issued since 1934 are commemoratives, pattern or bullion coins.