An eggshell catalyst consisting of a hollow cylindrical support body of length 2 to 10 mm, external diameter 4 to 10 mm and wall thickness 1 to 4 mm, and an eggshell, applied to the outer surface of the support body, of catalytically active oxide material of the general formula I, Mo12V2 to 4W0 to 3Cu0.8 to 1.5X10 to 4X20 to 40On  (I) in which the variables are each defined as follows: X1=one or more elements of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals; X2=one or more elements from the group of Si, Al, Ti and Zr; and n=the stoichiometric coefficient of the element oxygen, which is determined by the stoichiometric coefficients of the elements other than oxygen and the charges thereof in I.