"The General" - an 'error' silver bullion art bar

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by ZoidMeister, Apr 13, 2026 at 10:43 PM.

  1. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . . Supporter

    IMG_5919.JPG

    "The General" - an 'error' silver bullion art bar

    I purchased this bar way back in 1972 for the princely sum of around $3.00. Shortly after I bought it, there was quite the buzz about this bar. It seemed whoever designed and engraved the die for The Madison Mint, chose the incorrect locomotive to be engraved into the die.

    Any train aficionado worth their salt knows that ‘The General’ steam locomotive of the civil war ‘great locomotive chase’ fame is NOT a 4-2-4 steam engine as depicted in this ‘error’ bar, but is rather a Western & Atlantic Railroad 4-4-0 steam locomotive built in December 1855 by the Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor in Paterson, New Jersey, as depicted in the second bar below.

    The General non-error (LG).JPG


    @johnmilton recently mentioned in a CT Silver Bullion thread that back in the early 1970’s, bullion art bar makers would ‘intentionally’ release ‘error’ bars hoping to stimulate interest and demand. I wonder if this Madison Mint bar was one of those ‘intentional’ errors?

    Does anyone else have any examples of reportedly 'error' silver or copper art bars / bullion strikes? Post them up if you do.

    @dwhiz ?

    Z
     
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  3. ddddd

    ddddd Member

    That's interesting; something I had not seen before today.
     
    dwhiz, ZoidMeister and SensibleSal66 like this.
  4. dwhiz

    dwhiz Collector Supporter

    @ZoidMeister I had one but when silver went over $100. I sold it.
    I sold all my silver bars but this one. Hobo token Train Set Bar #13 A Landis studios.jpg
     
  5. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . . Supporter

    You do have a couple 'error' pieces as well if memory serves . . .

    Z
     
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  6. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . . Supporter

    An that one is worthy of keeping.

    Z
     
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  7. Eric the Red

    Eric the Red Exploring the World of Coins Supporter

    Here are 2 mules I picked up recently. Copper designs struck on silver
    2016-Provident-Year-of-The-Monkey-1-oz-Silver-Round-Error-Copper-Mule-Highlighted.jpg

    20260124_191716.jpg 20260124_191831.jpg 20260124_191609.jpg 20260124_191651.jpg Provident-Prospector-1-oz-Silver-Round-V1-Error-Copper-Mule-Reverse-Highlighted.jpg
     

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