What does the term Mule mean?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by SteveL, Jul 3, 2009.

  1. SteveL

    SteveL New Member

    Just a quicky.
    What does the word "Mule" mean when referring to a coin please.
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. borgovan

    borgovan Supporter**

    It's a coin that has been stamped from two dies that were not intended to be used together. For instance. A Lincoln cent obverse with a Roosevelt dime reverse.

    True mules are extremely rare.
     
  4. SteveL

    SteveL New Member

    Thanks borgovan
     
  5. SteveL

    SteveL New Member

    Right, so we are all familiar with British 20p Mule and all the publicity and thousands of pounds changing hands as we speak.

    Are there any other UK British Mule coins?

    Many thanks
    SteveL
     
  6. schatzy

    schatzy ~Roosie Fanatic~

  7. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    I don't know about British mules, but alot of US coin mules are highly suspect. There were some mules that a master counterfeiter later admitted to having created. Others are suspected to be created intentionally at the mint, either for profit or publicity. True mules, as stated above, are incredibly rare.
     
  8. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    Like the Washington quarter obverse & the Sacagawea $ reverses.

    A supposed impossibility-- yet it happened.


    About 12-20 known, I forget how many.
     
  9. jloring

    jloring Senior Citizen

    Mark Hoffman and the '59 Lincoln wheat back comes to mind... though I don't believe he ever came right out and claimed responsibility.
     
  10. schatzy

    schatzy ~Roosie Fanatic~

    He claimed responsibility http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v05n52a06.html
     
  11. jloring

    jloring Senior Citizen

    I can't find any current info on the '59 mule, but...

    "the coin was pulled from the auction at the eleventh hour when convicted forger Mark Hofmann claimed to have made the coin. Subsequent investigation failed to confirm this claim and the coin was re-consigned"

    I guess this coin has been discussed here before and I would like an update if anyone has it.
     
  12. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

  13. PennyGuy

    PennyGuy US and CDN Copper

    Loved that movie and Shirley MacLaine 's role
     
  14. deadmunny

    deadmunny Member

    While we are on the subject of mules, what does "mule" mean in terms of paper money?
    Is it the same thing. Misused plates on the obverse and reverse of the bill?
     
  15. justafarmer

    justafarmer Senior Member

    Generally speaking a mule is an item that stores a significant amount of monetary value and has the ability to inconspicuously pass through customs. The numismatic community adopted this term to specifically describe the mint error referenced above.
     
  16. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    Yes it means the same thing in paper money, two printing plate designs that were not intended to be used together.

    And some mule coins are not all that rare.
     
  17. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title] Supporter

    Mules are much more common with paper currency. On coins, there are unbelievably rare and in many cases are fakes.
     
  18. Hobo

    Hobo Squirrel Hater

    This may be obvious but here goes . . .

    Why was the term 'mule' chosen for a coin produced from obverse and reverse dies that were not intended to be used together? Because the animal known as the mule is the offspring of two species that don't exactly go together - a male donkey and a female horse. Like most hybrids, the mule is usually sterile.
     
  19. sasquatch07

    sasquatch07 New Member

    i have a mule british undated 2o pence coin and want to find out the value can anybody help would be much appreciated thanks.
     
  20. dready

    dready Coin Hoarder

    This is courtesy of The Heritage Auction site:
    Mule Notes
    Mule notes occur on both Large- and small-size notes. On Large-size notes beginning in 1921 when Frank White took office, new back plates were also created for notes being printed, however, the location of the plate number was changed! Detailed information can be found in "The Comprehensive Catalog of United States Large Size Star Notes" by Doug Murray.
    A small-size mule is a note that has a micro plate number on one side and a macro plate number on the other. Micro numbers measure 0.6mm and macros measure 1mm high.
    During the transition to all macro plates, both micro and macro plates were in use. Usually these different plates were side-by-side on the same press. This occurred because the BEP had a standard economic policy of using up obsolete plates rather than scrapping them. Whenever micro faces are paired with macro backs, or macro faces are paired with micro backs, a mule is produced.
    Some mule notes are scarce, while some are not. Sometimes the non-mule note is scarcer than the mule note for a given series. Mules are an intriguing part of collecting small size United States paper money. Here is an example of a mule note that I received as a prize for winning a contest held by RickieB. Thanks again Rickie..................................John
     

    Attached Files:

  21. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    I have no idea what Heritage is talking about on the small size note and micro/macro plate numbers. I know there are mule small size notes but I don't think it has anything to do with the size of the plate numbers. There IS a small size dollar not that was made in Ft Worth that has the back plate number 295 in the smaller size that is used in Washington DC, but it is an error on the plate not a mule.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page