5 Reichspfennig Pattern

In 1925, the Reichsbank was evaluating coinage compositions following the currency stabilization achieved through the introduction of the Rentenmark in late 1923. Nickel was among several metals tested for the smaller denominations before aluminum-bronze was ultimately chosen for circulating 5 Pfennig pieces. Pattern strikes like this one represent that decision-making process in physical form — produced in controlled numbers, never released, and surviving almost entirely in institutional and specialist collections.