Euro cent probes (essais/patterns) produced ahead of the 2002 currency changeover were struck in various alternative compositions to test striking characteristics and durability against the adopted specification. A copper example at this weight deviates meaningfully from the production 5 cent, which uses a copper-clad steel core — suggesting this piece belongs to the material evaluation phase rather than a die trial.
Euro cent probes (essais/patterns) produced ahead of the 2002 currency changeover were struck in various alternative compositions to test striking characteristics and durability against the adopted specification. A copper example at this weight deviates meaningfully from the production 5 cent, which uses a copper-clad steel core — suggesting this piece belongs to the material evaluation phase rather than a die trial.