The following mint errors are featured in the Platinum Session of the August 2024 ANA US Coins Signature® Auction #1376.
Images Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
2001-D Lincoln Cent, MS66 Red
Muled with a Roosevelt Dime Reverse
2001-D Lincoln Cent -- Muled With a Roosevelt Dime Reverse -- MS66 Red PCGS. A mule is a coin struck from mismatched dies. In the long history of the U.S. Mint, mules are extremely rare. If patterns and foreign coins are excluded, a total of perhaps 30 mules are known. The best-known is the Washington state quarter obverse paired with a Sacagawea dollar reverse, struck circa-2000, which has a census of fewer of 20 pieces. Importantly, the state quarter / Sacagawea dollar mule is ranked #1 in the 100 Greatest U.S. Error Coins reference.
Among a multitude of mule possibilities, the Lincoln cent / Roosevelt dime mule is perhaps the most likely to occur. The diameters for the cent and dime are similar (respectively, 19 mm and 18 mm), and both types have annual mintages that often exceed a billion or more pieces. Nonetheless, mules are great rarities. Reportedly the U.S. Mint has taken steps in recent years to prevent mule errors.
The present lot lays claim to being both the first-known and finest-known 2001-D mule cent. We have since sold three additional examples. Probably, the four known 2001-D cent / dime mules were struck on the same day, by the same die pair, on the same press. In total, we know of only seven cent / dime mules:
1. A 2001-D Lincoln cent obverse and a Roosevelt dime reverse on a Lincoln cent planchet, previously sold as lot 3158 in our Long Beach Signature auction in June 2021, which realized $114,000. The present coin.
2. Another. MS66 Red PCGS. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2024), lot 4450, which brought $114,000.
3. Another. MS65 Red PCGS. Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2022), lot 3133, realized $78,000.
4. Another. MS65 Red PCGS. Dallas Signature (8/2022), lot 3984, realized $66,000.
5. A 1999 Lincoln cent obverse and a Roosevelt dime reverse on a Lincoln cent planchet. MS66 Red PCGS. Bellaire Collection; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2006), lot 5271.
6. A 1993-D Lincoln cent obverse and a Roosevelt dime reverse on a Lincoln cent planchet. MS65 Red PCGS. Alfred V. Melson Collection; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2010), lot 2383.
7. A 1995 Lincoln cent obverse and a Roosevelt dime reverse on a Roosevelt dime planchet. MS64 NGC. Alfred V. Melson Collection; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2010), lot 2384.
This lustrous orange-gold Premium Gem is devoid of contact. The strike is sharp, and the grade is limited solely by scattered pinpoint obverse flecks. The Lincoln obverse displays a normal appearance aside from an indistinct rim and weakness at the nearby legends. The Roosevelt reverse shows an unusually broad rim that consists of three concentric levels. The inner and outer levels are raised, while the middle level has a lower relief. The smaller diameter of the Roosevelt reverse die is responsible for the wider rim on that side. We expect much attention and strong bidding from the advanced error specialists for this rare 2001-D cent/dime mule.
1976-S Bicentennial Quarter
Struck on a Silver Half Dollar Planchet
PR69 Cameo
1976-S Bicentennial Quarter -- Struck on a Silver Half Dollar Planchet -- PR69 Cameo NGC. 11.4 grams. An incredibly unusual proof mint error, featuring a 1976-S Bicentennial Washington quarter struck on a half dollar planchet intended for the silver-clad half dollar of the same date. The quarter design is uncentered on the planchet, and shows moderate distortion at the edges. These types of errors, when seen on circulation strikes, often show fractures in the outer edge of the host planchet, but this piece has no such cracks, with the planchet instead cupped on the obverse similar to what is seen on die cap errors. Each side is brilliant, and the fields of the quarter are deeply mirrored. The unstruck planchet surface is semi-reflective.
Proof errors are generally scarce and unusual, as proof coins were struck by hand-feeding planchets into the presses and then carefully extracting the coins for inclusion in sets. As Mike Byers notes, proof errors as dramatic as the current coin were undoubtedly struck deliberately, and represent a coveted subset of error coinage for collectors.
1973-S Half Dollar, PR68★
Struck on a Clad Ike Dollar Planchet
1973-S Kennedy Half Dollar -- Struck on a Clad Proof Eisenhower Dollar Planchet -- PR68★ NGC. 22.4 grams. This dramatic mint error falls into the category of deliberately struck proof error, and is characterized by a clad proof Eisenhower dollar planchet being hand-fed into the press fitted with proof half dollar dies. The half dollar design is sharply struck uncentered, hugging the right border with a large unstruck area of the planchet opposite. The coin is brilliant, and the fields are deeply mirrored and pristine. We have frequently seen Kennedy halves struck on planchets intended for smaller denominations, but to our knowledge this is the only proof Kennedy known on a large Ike dollar planchet. Mike Byers echoed that distinction when he handled this piece.
2000-D Sacagawea Dollar, MS64
Muled with a South Carolina Quarter Reverse
Unique, Highly Coveted Error
2000-D $1 Sacagawea Dollar / South Carolina Quarter Mule MS64 PCGS. A Paul Gilkes front page story in the June 27, 2022 issue of Coin World astounded the numismatic hobby. More than 20 years after it was struck, a mule was reported that paired a Sacagawea dollar obverse and the statehood side of a 2000-dated South Carolina quarter. A mule is a coin struck from mismatched dies. The best-known mule, ranked #1 in the 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins reference, pairs the Washington obverse of a statehood quarter with a Sacagawea dollar reverse. An undated Philadelphia Mint product, it was discovered in 2000, the year the Sacagawea dollar was introduced. There are approximately 18 known examples of that mule, and when examples appear at auction, they routinely hammer down in excess of one hundred thousand dollars.
The present mule is unique. It is more dramatic than the other famous Sacagawea dollar / statehood quarter mule, since the state is identified, and it shows the Sacagawea obverse. The coin has both a date and a mintmark. The coin is fully struck and displays medium sea-green and tan-brown toning with peripheral shades of blue and lilac. No marks are noticeable, though a loupe reveals minor luster grazes.
The quarter side has a broad rim with three concentric levels. The inner and outer levels are raised, and the middle level is recessed. The wider rim on the quarter side is caused by the wider diameter of the Sacagawea dollar die. The mule is struck on a Sacagawea dollar planchet with a weight of 8.1 grams, a diameter of 26.5 millimeters, and a plain edge, all as usual for a 2000-D Sacagawea dollar.
All mules are rare in U.S. numismatics. The Coin World article states:
"Other U.S. mules that have been authenticated include: the first identified, featuring an obverse of a State quarter dollar and the reverse of the Sacagawea dollar, struck on the golden dollar planchet; a mule with a Sacagawea dollar obverse and Presidential dollar reverse, also struck on a golden dollar planchet; a mule error struck with two Roosevelt dime reverse dies on a copper-nickel clad dime planchet; two examples of Washington quarter dollar mules from two reverse dies, presumably struck at the San Francisco Mint circa 1965 to 1966; a unique 1993-D piece struck on a cent planchet with a Lincoln cent obverse die and Roosevelt dime reverse die; and a 1995 piece struck on a dime planchet by a Lincoln cent obverse die and Roosevelt dime reverse die."
In addition to that brief listing of known mule combinations, three 2001-D Lincoln cents with a Roosevelt dime reverse have appeared in Heritage auctions, one of which appears in this sale under lot 4259. A 1999 Lincoln cent with a Roosevelt dime reverse also was hammered down in our April 2006 Central States Signature.
Ex: Dallas Signature (Heritage, 12/2022), lot 3569.
