What a guy! Dollar/Quarter MULE selling for less than 20.00

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Kasia, Aug 30, 2011.

  1. Kasia

    Kasia Got my learning hat on

    Ebay seller is selling (per his title and it being listed in error coins) a Sacajawea/Quarter MULE. No indication in title or in the listing category that it is not real. Then in the description he goes on to say:

    "This is a Sacagawea error Dollar Quarter Mule.When the mint made this famous mistake of minting the Sacagawea Dollar they stamped the George Washington State Quarter on the face side while keeping the eagle on the reverse side .Now you can own one of these famous error coins,I have inlaid the George Washington state Quarter in to the front side of the Sacagawea Dollar . I only use unc. coins taken from mint bags or unc. bank rolls using white cotton gloves ."



    Report at your discretion, I have.
    :mad: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sacagawea-dollar-quarter-MULE-/190570421111?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item2c5ee1db77#ht_500wt_1043
     
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  3. well, at least he is being honest with his item. It is still illegal, however, to deface US currency like this.
     
  4. Vroomer2

    Vroomer2 Active Member

    Nah. I have Chi-com counterfeiters to find and squash.

    If someone wants to make a ring out of a half dollar or someone wants to make a novelty item and say it's a novelty, I'll let that slide.
     
  5. jloring

    jloring Senior Citizen

    Illegal? Yes. Enforced? No.
     
  6. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    I'm not even sure it's illegal. If he was doing it with fraudulent intent then yes it would be, but he describes it for what it is and says that it is not a mint error and he is selling it at a low price. It doesn't even look like he has plated it to make the quarter side the same collar as the dollar side. I would have to say it is as legal as Daniel Carr's overstrikes
     
  7. rev1774

    rev1774 Well-Known Member

    Agreed, based on colorized coins and over strikes and such.
     
  8. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title]

    I don't think this is actually true. If it was, it would also be illegal to make jewelry out of coins and make magicians coins. Since both are extremely common...it must be legal. I think this "defacing" law is misinterpreted a lot.
     
  9. jloring

    jloring Senior Citizen

    I agree, and rescind my statement that "defacing" coins is illegal. An archaic and unenforceable "law"... and as you state "misinterpreted."
     
  10. rzage

    rzage What Goes Around Comes Around .

    I'm pretty sure you're right , just like Hobo nickels and painted coines to cut out jewelry coins it's legal as long as you don't do it frauduently .
     
  11. vnickels

    vnickels Matt Draiss Numismatics & Galleries

    It is illegal to deface coins in large numbers; hello we have penny rolling machines at every tourist trap!
     
  12. Kasia

    Kasia Got my learning hat on

    You're right, probably not illegal, my only continuing problem is that he is listing it as an error, and only after he says it is an error coin (which his isn't) does he state he makes it. "This is a Sacagawea error Dollar Quarter Mule....Now you can own one of these famous error coins." Only after that, in the description, does it say he makes it that way. So he has already (in the title) called it the mule, and then states twice in the description it is the mule, before disclaiming it. He also puts it in the error category. So, he may not intend to deceive by stating how it's made, but he has not once called it a reproduction of a mule or stated that it is a novelty item he has created.
    Call me picky, but I do think things like this matter.
     
  13. jloring

    jloring Senior Citizen

    Site the source of this information please.
     
  14. vnickels

    vnickels Matt Draiss Numismatics & Galleries

    I think that is just the law from what I have heard..........?
     
  15. jloring

    jloring Senior Citizen

    I agree... probably more suited for this category:

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/Magic-/14012/i.html?_nkw=trick+coin&_catref=1&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282
     
  16. jloring

    jloring Senior Citizen

    Come on V, you know better than to believe everything you hear!
     
  17. vnickels

    vnickels Matt Draiss Numismatics & Galleries

    It must be than! Rolling pennies is not illegal, yet it defaces money!
     
  18. vnickels

    vnickels Matt Draiss Numismatics & Galleries

    [h=1]The Treasury's Letter to Vance Fowler
    Is it legal to press pennies or other coins?[/h]Mr. Angelo Rosato reproduced this letter from the Department of the Treasury to Mr. Vance Fowler in his book "Encyclopedia of the Modern Elongated", (ISBN 0-9626996-2-4) angrospub@aol.com. The letter was dated July 22, 1980, letterhead: The Department of the Treasury, Office of the Director of the Mint, and is probably the source of many quotes collectors have seen over the years. It reads in part:
    "This is in reply to your letter of Jun 20, 1980, concerning United States statutes governing the destruction, melting, or other extramonetary uses of United States coins. You refer to and question the legality of a souvenir machine which compresses coins and returns a souvenir. You refer to Title 18, U. S. C. sections 331 and 475.
    As you are already aware, a federal statute in the criminal code of the United States (18 U.S.C. 331), indeed makes it illegal if one "fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales or lightens" any U.S. coin. However, being a criminal statute, a fraudulent intent is required for violation. Thus, the mere act of compressing coins into souvenirs is not illegal, without other factors being present.
    Section 475, which you refer to in your letter, regarding the attachment of notice or advertisement to legal tender, does not apply to your souvenirs in this case. Your are not impressing or attaching a business or professional card, notice or advertisement to a coin, your are simply making an impression on the coin.
    We hope this information answers your question. If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us.
    Sincerely,
    Kenneth B. Gubin
    Counsel to the Mint.
     
  19. Kasia

    Kasia Got my learning hat on

  20. yakpoo

    yakpoo Member

    I would give him $1.25 for it if he offered free S&H.

    You gotta admit...the quarter fits in there pretty nicely! He must dig out the face of the dollar coin and superglue the quarter in place. Anything else would destroy the coin's features...I would think.
     
  21. DaveMN

    DaveMN Coin collector-Minnesota

    Someone should at the very least, force him to stamp "COPY" on one side ..

    Not good ..
     
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