GERMANY. Kaiserreich. Wilhelm II, 1888-1918. 5 Pfennig (Iron-Zinc, 18 mm, 2.48 g), 95 % off center mint error, uncertain mint, no date (1915-1919). Imperial eagle, [mintmark] below. Rev. [•DEUTSCHES REICH• / 5 / PFENNIG / 1]91[ ]. Jaeger 297. Very rare as such a dramatic off center strike. Lacquered and tiny deposits, otherwise, about extremely fine.



By the end of World War I and into the early years of the Weimar Republic, Germany was facing a severe shortage of small change, and its mints were operating at full capacity to keep up with demand. As a result, mint errors are relatively common on coins of this period. Even so, a strike this dramatically off-center - by 95% - is both visually spectacular and very rare.