Latvia (KM#22.2) 20 Santimu 1992 Magnetic Alloy

MedveD

Interesting mint error. We are lucky and we can get acquainted with the official information about this error coin.
About 10 years ago it was impossible to find this coin in UNC condition, but now it is much easier.

Translation:
"Bank of Latvia
For official use
09.09.93 / 10.1 – 213
For all Latvian Bank's departments and Commercial banks
Bring to your attention that a small amount of 20 centimes coins puts into circulation, which through the fault of the German mint were made from different metal alloy (this alloy is used for a German 10 pfennigs coinage). The following distinctive features of coins are:
1) In some cases there are white metal on the edge of a coin (see the German 10 pfennigs),
2) Differences of magnetic property - coins are attracted under the influence of magnet (Original 20 centimes coins don't react on a magnetic field),
3) Differences in weight (see the German 10 pfennigs),
4) Differences in thickness.
Other differences are not present. In case of doubt consult in Bank of Latvia. Coins with the mentioned defect considered as full-fledged legal tender, but further are withdrawn from circulation and hand over to the Bank of Latvia.
Pass this information to all bank's cashiers which are occupied with the calculation and reception of cash.
President E. Repše"

Photos before grading and after:

Usually, you don't need a magnet to check the coin, you can recognize a "magnetic" coin by a grey stripe on its edge. Photos of another XF magnetic coin with the usual coin please see below.

Thank you for your attention!

TitusFlavius

Cool coin! Wrong planchet errors are fun, especially when struck on a planchet from a different country.

MedveD

The same coins, but different descriptions. "Magnetic alloy" is characterized as a variety in the Census, others like errors of usual coins.