GERMANY. Brandenburg-Preußen. Friedrich Wilhelm IV, 1840-1861. 3 Pfennige 1850 A (Copper, 24 mm, 4.58 g, 12 h), mule mint error with obverse of 3 Pfennige from Reuss-jüngere Linie zu Schleiz (AKS 31. Jaeger 130). Berlin. 120 EINEN THALER Crowned coat of arms. Rev. SCHEIDE MÜNZE / 3 / PFENNIGE / 1850 / A in five lines. AKS 90 (note). Jaeger 54. Olding 335b. Stutzmann 979. Extremely rare in this condition and beautifully toned. Tiny deposits, otherwise, good extremely fine.


The 1850 Prussian 3 Pfennig piece inscribed ‘DREI PFENNIGE’ instead of the standard Prussian form ‘DREI PFENNINGE’ is generally attributed to a minting error at Berlin. During the same period, the mint was striking similar copper denominations for the Principality of Reuss, whose coinage normally used the spelling ‘PFENNIGE’. A reverse die intended for Reuss was apparently paired by mistake with Prussian obverse dies, creating an unintended variety that nevertheless entered circulation officially.

Today, the issue is considered one of the classic die blunders of 19th-century German coinage and has long enjoyed strong collector interest.