Hi,
Test done on PostgreSQL 9.2.1
pgb=# create or replace function ps3(a int) returns int as $$ BEGIN
pgb$# RAISE WARNING 'Call ps3(%)=%',$1,$1; RETURN $1::int;
pgb$# END; $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql STRICT IMMUTABLE;
CREATE FUNCTION
pgb=# SELECT ps3(1);
WARNING:  Call ps3(1)=1
 ps3
-----
   1
(1 row)
pgb=# SELECT ps3(2);
WARNING:  Call ps3(2)=2
 ps3
-----
   2
(1 row)
pgb=# select coalesce( (select ps3(1)), (SELECT ps3(2)) );
WARNING:  Call ps3(1)=1
WARNING:  Call ps3(2)=2
 coalesce
----------
        1
(1 row)
pgb=# explain (verbose, analyze, buffers) select coalesce( (select ps3(1)), (SELECT ps3(2)) );
WARNING:  Call ps3(1)=1
WARNING:  Call ps3(2)=2
                                         QUERY PLAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Result  (cost=0.02..0.03 rows=1 width=0) (actual time=0.014..0.015 rows=1 loops=1)
   Output: COALESCE($0, $1)
   InitPlan 1 (returns $0)
     ->  Result  (cost=0.00..0.01 rows=1 width=0) (actual time=0.002..0.003 rows=1 loops=1)
           Output: 1
   InitPlan 2 (returns $1)
     ->  Result  (cost=0.00..0.01 rows=1 width=0) (never executed)
           Output: 2
 Total runtime: 0.079 ms
(9 rows)
pgb=# select coalesce( ps3(1), ps3(2) );
WARNING:  Call ps3(1)=1
 coalesce
----------
        1
(1 row)
There is a bug too.
JG