Got it back from NGC. I'm happy with their results. You can see the clips (one is partly covered by the NW slab finger). The key is the slight spread between the bronze core and the CuNi outer ring. Now the job will be to get a value for it.
I agree. They could have opted for something other than the standard prongs on this one. One of their old inserts would have been better.
Cool error, but what caught my eye was the notation OLD MAP. From that I gather they've changed the map on the Euro coins at some point? Now I have to go look that up.
From what I see on Numista "2nd map" for some countries started in 2007 and other countries in 2008. A bunch of countries joined in 2004 and Romania joined in 2007. Why NGC would designate a 2002 as an "old map" variety seems curious. It implies that both versions existed in 2002 but I see no evidence of that.