I recently went through a box containing things found after grandpa passed. Found a coin that is lincoln cent on front, liberty dime on back. It is the thickness and diameter of a dime. The catalogs I have looked in would indicate this to be a mule. None in 1935. Help!!!
Not a true mule,it's a created "magic coin" which once came in a set of magic tricks. Sorry, but these things have fooled alot of folks over the years. ~ Jim
While I would agree that laz is probably 99.9% right - one should still remember that real mules do exist though they are extremely rare. And the simple fact is - you never know when you might find one. For each genuine mule that is in existance - somebody had to find it. What I would suggest is that you examine the coin in question very closely using a 10 power or higher magnifying glass or loupe. Examine the edges and just inside the rim of the coin and look for a seam. Odds are you will find one. But if you don't - then you need to have the coin examined by an expert for you may really have something. But I wouldn't hold my breath on that happening.
Thanks for the info. So am I looking for what would be two seperate pieces pressed together. The outside diameter looks exactly like a dime. I have this piece magnified so it is three inches. there definitely is no seam on either front or back. Would the seam be between front and back on the side.
Does this piece have a smooth rim, like a cent, or a reeded edge, like a dime? If it is the diameter of a dime (as you say), has the reeded edge of a dime, and is composed of silver, it could be a genuine mule. All other combinations seem even less likely to be genuine. The seam on an imitation should be somewhere along the edge of the rim, as you seem to understand.
Not smooth, reeded edge. Very little rim on face side,looking at a regular penny , there seems to be a good sized rim , this one does not.Almost on top of the letters. Rim looks same as regular dime on back.There is some wear on bottom of rim, on the dime side of the coin so that the rim is almost gone, definitely no seam.
interesting,. as most "magic coins"are Copper/Silver in color. It might be best to get a local coin dealer to look at your coin. But, I repeat, only to look! Don't accept any offeres either way. No 1935 mules have ever been reported so don't get your hopes up.It may have been electroplated at some point. ~ Jim
I agree. Might want to have a dealer take a look at it. Not much else that can probably be gleaned verbally other.
One true test would be to drop the coin on your table from a very short height. If it rings, it is a true mule. If the coin has a thud, it is a magician coin.
