Three Important Pattern Mulings to Appear in Heritage Auction

Dallas, TX: According to the website USPatterns.com, a mule is "a pairing of odd dies that are not suitably regarded as for instance, a two headed coin. For example J-219 is a very flagrant marriage of two large Flying Eagle cent obverses, one with legend and one without."

"Perhaps the most famous mules were recently produced in the Philadelphia Mint through an illogical combination of an obverse die intended for a Washington quarter and a reverse die intended for a Sacagawea dollar," said Greg Rohan, President of Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. "Examples of the Washington quarter/Sacagawea dollar mules have reached the six-figure value in past auctions."

"Among all 19th century pieces, quite a number of varieties are known that combine two different pattern dies," Rohan continued, "and a few are known that combine one pattern die with a regular issue die. However, mules that combine two unrelated dies that were both used for regular issue coinage are extremely rare. In fact, we are only aware of three such instances, with a total population of not more than six coins for all three varieties. Two of the three are unique, and the estimated population for the third is just three or four pieces. Heritage is proud to present all three of these important mules in our Charlotte Spring ANA auction."

"Judd-362 is struck in copper-nickel and combines an 1864 Indian cent obverse die (the No L variety) with an 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle cent obverse die," Rohan said. "Only three or four of these pieces are known today. This distinctive variety was produced in the mid-1860s, with an auction appearance as early as October 1868. The example offered in Charlotte is certified PR62 by PCGS."

"Judd-531a is struck in nickel and combines the obverse die of an 1866 Shield nickel with an undated obverse die for a three dollar gold piece," said Rohan. "This variety is unique and has a pedigree dating to a June 1905 auction conducted by the Chapman brothers. It has been certified as PR62 by PCGS."

Rohan continued, "Judd-691 is also considered to be unique and is struck in nickel. It combines the obverse of an 1869 Indian cent with an obverse die for an 1869 Shield nickel. This piece is certified by PCGS as PR64 and has a pedigree dating to April 1877."

Heritage Auction Galleries will present the 1864 1C Indian Cent / 1858 Flying Eagle Cent Mule, the 1866 5C Shield Five Cent / Three Dollar Mule, and the 1869 5C Five Cent / Indian Cent Mule in their upcoming Signature Auction, on March 15-17, 2007, as the official auctioneer of the American Numismatics Association's National Money Show, to be held at the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28202.

1864 1C Indian Cent / 1858 Flying Eagle Cent Mule, Judd-362, Pollock-428, High R.7, PR62 PCGS:

1866 5C Shield Five Cent / Three Dollar Mule, Judd-531A, Pollock-596, Unique, PR62 PCGS:

1869 5C Five Cent / Indian Cent Mule, Judd-691, Pollock-748, Unique, PR64 PCGS:

Images, descriptions, and prices realized from all of Heritage's previous auctions are available in the Permanent Auction Archives at the Heritage website, www.HA.com.

To access the Heritage Press Release Archive, please visit www.HA.com/Coins.

To reserve your copy of a catalog for any upcoming Heritage auction, please contact Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272.