10 Thalers - George IV Copper pattern strike

Hanover's monetary system was in flux in the early 1820s as the kingdom worked to rationalize its coinage following the post-Napoleonic reorganization of German territories. Pattern strikes like this one were produced to test dies, assess design suitability, and circulate among court officials and Treasury advisors before any commitment to silver production. Copper was the standard proofing metal — cheap, responsive to die detail, and easy to assess for sharpness without wasting bullion.

George IV was still in the first year of his reign as King of Hanover when this piece was struck, the British crown and Hanoverian throne still united under personal union.