Mint Error Coin Chronicles: Mules
Posted on 8/13/2024
Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) is the world’s leading authority on mint errors, a popular segment of numismatics. In Mint Error Coin Chronicles, we take an in-depth look at a specific kind of mint error. This month’s topic is Mules.
A Mule is a coin that has an obverse and reverse that were not intended to go together. For instance, the Gibraltar coin below has a 1990-dated obverse paired with a Christmas-themed reverse that was used on 1989 coins. An example of this rare error that is graded by NGC was recently sold for £4,500 (about $5,700), according to an article published by BBC News in July 2024.
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The collector reportedly reached out to the Britannia Coin Company (BCC) to help sell the rarity. Christopher Collects, a coin expert from BCC, said he was uncertain of the coin’s authenticity, and sent the coin to NGC because “they are specialists in rare coins.” The coin was certified with a grade of NGC Mint Error MS 67.
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This isn’t the only Mule found on the market lately. Heritage Auctions is auctioning a British West Africa 1945H Penny with an Edward VIII Obverse graded NGC MS 64, with an estimated value of $6,000 to $8,000, in a sale scheduled for August 15, 2024.
Edward VIII became king of the United Kingdom upon the death of his father on January 20, 1936. He abdicated on December 11 of the same year in order to marry a divorced American socialite. Though the United Kingdom did not officially issue any coinage in his name, certain British colonies did, including British West Africa. But a die bearing his name should never have been paired with one dated 1945.
Other NGC-certified Mule error coins sold by Heritage Auctions include:
- a (2000) P Sacagawea Dollar Revere Muled with Washington Quarter Obverse graded NGC MS 67 Mint Error that realized $120,000 on January 10, 2019
- a Sacagawea Dollar Muled with a Quarter graded NGC Mint Error MS 67 that realized $102,000 on September 6, 2019
- 2014-D Sacagawea Dollar Muled with a Presidential Dollar Reverse graded NGC Mint Error AU 58 that realized $84,000 on April 24, 2021
- a USA-Philippines 1918-S 5 Centavos Muled with a 20 Centavos Reverse graded NGC MS 64 that realized $41,125 on April 12, 2014
- a USA-Philippines 1918-S 5 Centavos Muled with a 20 Centavos Reverse graded NGC MS 64 that realized $19,975 on April 8, 2017
- an India 1936 Rupee Mule Restrike with a George VI Obverse graded NGC PF 63 that realized $11,400 on January 19, 2022
- an India 1862(B) Rupee Muled with a Half Anna Obverse graded NGC MS 61 that realized $10,500 on May 10, 2024
- an Ethiopia EE1921(1928) Werk Gold Mule (1/8 Birr Obverse and 1/32 Birr Reverse) graded NGC MS 62 that realized $5,520 on November 3, 2022
- a Great Britain 1994 Gold 2 Pounds Bank of England Muled with a 1994 Sovereign graded NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo that realized $4,080 on April 26, 2019
Estimates are provided by the auction house. Prices realized include a buyer’s premium. The $ symbol indicates US Dollars.
Other Mint Error Coin Chronicles Articles:
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