This post addresses a
possible variety for the 2002-A Germany Euro
Twenty Cent, KM# 211, Schon #210,
Numista #109.
The 2002-A Germany Euro
Ten Cent, KM# 210, Schon #209,
Numista #108, has two well-known varieties, one with a clear field and the other with a matte finish ("foggy field") around the Brandenburger Tor.
There has been some discussion as to whether the
Twenty Cent also has a similar variety. From what I have seen, the
possible Twenty Cent variety is noticeably tougher to locate and much less bold than the listed Ten Cent variety.
I don't have any hard and fast answers or opinions here. What does everyone think about this?
First, here is a run-of-the-mill normal 2002-A German Euro
Twenty Cent, with a clear field.


Second, here is a 2002-A German Euro
Twenty Cent with what I believe
may be a matte field. If this
is a matte field, should it be listed as a variety?


Third, here is a 2002-A German Euro
Twenty Cent that
may have had a matte field created by die clash polishing. If so, are the matte finish ("foggy field") coins just a relic of die polishing? Does this suggest what may have happened to (or to
create) the supposed matte finish dies? Alternatively, does the larger surface area to polish suggest a possible reason why apparent matte finish
Twenty Cent coins are tougher to locate?


Fourth, here is a 2002-A German Euro
Twenty Cent that has
some characteristics of an incomplete matte field. These seem much more common than coins with complete or nearly complete potential matte fields.


Thoughts? Should this be listed as a variety or not? Is it sufficiently like the Ten Cent or is it too different for listing? Does the possible die polishing causation issue call into question the Ten Cent listing as well? If the
Twenty Cent is a true die variety, why does it seem less common than its Ten Cent counterpart?
If it should or could be listed, I have no idea how, what, when, where, or by whom that mystery happens, so I'll leave it for a Numismatic Gandalf to work that deep magic.
Again, I don't have any feelings about this. I just find the question interesting and the answer elusive. Thanks!