5 Deutsche Mark Pattern

In 1951, West Germany was still two years away from issuing its first 5 Mark coin for general circulation — that wouldn't happen until 1951's silver issue reached pockets in quantity, and the cupro-nickel denomination question remained unresolved well into the decade. This piece is a pattern struck to evaluate the copper-nickel alloy as a candidate material, a decision ultimately shelved in favor of .625 silver for the 5 Mark denomination. The Bundesbank and Allied occupation financial authorities were still negotiating the parameters of Deutsche Mark coinage infrastructure at this point.

KM# Pn10 is one of several competing patterns from this period. Fewer than a handful are documented in major collections.