A mule struck when two mismatched dies were inadvertently paired at one of the German federal mints during normal production. The 2000-dated 50 Pfennig is particularly anomalous given its timing — German euro conversion planning was already locking down Pfennig production schedules, meaning die controls should have been tighter, not looser, as the series wound down toward the 2002 changeover.
A mule struck when two mismatched dies were inadvertently paired at one of the German federal mints during normal production. The 2000-dated 50 Pfennig is particularly anomalous given its timing — German euro conversion planning was already locking down Pfennig production schedules, meaning die controls should have been tighter, not looser, as the series wound down toward the 2002 changeover.