Who here is going to bid on the Sacagawea Mule at Great Collections?!

Kurisu

https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1502304/Mint-Error-2000-P-Sacagawea-Dollar-Mule-with-Washington-Quarter-PCGS-MS-66

Great Collections description -
Mint Error (2000)-P Sacagawea Dollar Mule with Washington Quarter PCGS MS-66
About two dozen examples are known, since it was first discovered by Frank Wallis of Arkansas in the year of issue, 2000. It was the first "mule" released into circulation by the U.S. Mint - a "mule" is defined as a coin minted with obverse and reverse dies not normally seen on the same piece. It has been graded PCGS MS-66, which is tied for the finest graded by PCGS. Of the small number known, there are three different dies, this coin is Die 1, with the main die characteristic present on the F of OF (Sacagawea) to the edge of coin.

For one of the most famous errors to ever leave the U.S. Mint, only a few are available for collectors to own, as all others have been purchased over the years by a single collector. It's a striking error and understandable why it's been atop modern error lists for over twenty years since it was first discovered.

The 100 Greatest U.S. Mint Errors book by David Camire, Nicholas Brown and Fred Weinberg featured the Sacagawea Mule on the cover as well as ranked the mule as the #1 U.S. coin error.

OAKSTAR

Can I call a friend? @MWallace 😉

Zoins

I wonder if Tommy Bolack will bid on it

Steven59

41 days left? I'll probably forget to bid
The new picture format looks great!

EliteCollection

Count me in!

alaura22

@EliteCollection said:
Count me in!

C'mon Really???

EliteCollection

Yeah, Tommy Bolack is getting some competition.

JBK

Pass. There's a spot on the obverse. I'll wait for a cleaner one.

wondercoin

IMHO, when folks try to “corner markets” such as with this coin, things usually end very poorly. I seem to recall the cornering of the proof vdb cent market not ending all that well for the hoarder. Here, there are many factors why I haven’t bought one of these coins in the past roughly 20 years. First and foremost, modern coin rarities with a mintage of 24 -28 usually trade well under a hundred grand. Ex: 1964 SMS 50C, Frosted Freedom $25. But, when the known mintage on this mule was around only a dozen, it was arguably worth $200K+ - in line with other modern rarities such as the Frosted Freedom $100 (pop 12). When mintages get in that “third” dozen coins, prices drop like a rock (ex: No S 1968-S 10C). Just like values on real estate are tied to location,, values on great modern coins are very connected to mintages, mintages and mintages. I can’t get my mind around where exactly this mintage will be in 10 more years. Will it stay here in the “two dozen” range or be at 3-5 dozen, making it a potentially significantly lower value? And, what of the hoarder? What if his hoard becomes available next year hypothetically? What if it is all consigned to GC? What might 15+ specimens hitting the market due to the values? These, and many other factors play into assessing pursuing this coin. Finally, when PCGS recently decided to create its “light” version of the Top 100 Modern coins, it set aside the coins that they considered the great modern rarities that the average collector couldn’t afford. They made this coin the #1 coin of the “light” version set - essentially not even recognizing it as the major modern coin rarity deserving of being excluded from the “light” set. Another seriously confusing point to assessing the proper values to these coins.

But, also, let’s not forget the Exceedingly Rare 2001-D Cent/Dime Mule. All 4 sales at Heritage as shown:

2001-D Lincoln Cent, MS66 Red
Muled with a Roosevelt Dime Reverse

(Set to be auctioned): January, 2024: Coin # 4: (“Probably, the four known 2001-D cent / dime mules were struck on the same day, by the same die pair, on the same press”).

June 17, 2021: $114,000 (MS66)(no mention of any other coins believed to be known for this mule or not known).
February 24, 2022: $78,000 (MS65) (“The present coin is the second-known 2001-D cent / dime mule”).
August 24, 2022: $66,000 MS65) (“More likely than not, the three known 2001-D cent / dime mules were struck on the same day, from the same muled die pair.”)

So, are there only 4 of these 2001-D Cent mules or more of them? Are there around 24- 28 of the Dollar/Sac Mules (a well known error dealer is sitting on some raw ones) or many more of those? Mintage, mintage, mintage controls modern coin rarity pricing is my “mantra”. Just look at the “trajectory” of that 2001-D Cent/Dime mule (all within just 14 months) with each passing coin price realized (and all coins at gem or better in PCGS holders: $114,000 to $78,000 to $66,000 to ??? in January, 2024?

Personally, I’ll wait for the Dollar/Sac Mule gems to come down to around $50,000 - an entry point I can live with.

Just my 2 cents.

Wondercoin.

jmlanzaf

@wondercoin said:
IMHO, when folks try to “corner markets” such as with this coin, things usually end very poorly. I seem to recall the cornering of the proof vdb cent market not ending all that well for the hoarder. Here, there are many factors why I haven’t bought one of these coins in the past roughly 20 years. First and foremost, modern coin rarities with a mintage of 24 -28 usually trade well under a hundred grand. Ex: 1964 SMS 50C, Frosted Freedom $25. But, when the known mintage on this mule was around only a dozen, it was arguably worth $200K+ - in line with other modern rarities such as the Frosted Freedom $100 (pop 12). When mintages get in that “third” dozen coins, prices drop like a rock (ex: No S 1968-S 10C). Just like values on real estate are tied to location,, values on great modern coins are very connected to mintages, mintages and mintages. I can’t get my mind around where exactly this mintage will be in 10 more years. Will it stay here in the “two dozen” range or be at 3-5 dozen, making it a potentially significantly lower value? And, what of the hoarder? What if his hoard becomes available next year hypothetically? What if it is all consigned to GC? What might 15+ specimens hitting the market due to the values? These, and many other factors play into assessing pursuing this coin. Finally, when PCGS recently decided to create its “light” version of the Top 100 Modern coins, it set aside the coins that they considered the great modern rarities that the average collector couldn’t afford. They made this coin the #1 coin of the “light” version set - essentially not even recognizing it as the major modern coin rarity deserving of being excluded from the “light” set. Another seriously confusing point to assessing the proper values to these coins.

But, also, let’s not forget the Exceedingly Rare 2001-D Cent/Dime Mule. All 4 sales at Heritage as shown:

2001-D Lincoln Cent, MS66 Red
Muled with a Roosevelt Dime Reverse

(Set to be auctioned): January, 2024: Coin # 4: (“Probably, the four known 2001-D cent / dime mules were struck on the same day, by the same die pair, on the same press”).

June 17, 2021: $114,000 (MS66)(no mention of any other coins believed to be known for this mule or not known).
February 24, 2022: $78,000 (MS65) (“The present coin is the second-known 2001-D cent / dime mule”).
August 24, 2022: $66,000 MS65) (“More likely than not, the three known 2001-D cent / dime mules were struck on the same day, from the same muled die pair.”)

So, are there only 4 of these 2001-D Cent mules or more of them? Are there around 24- 28 of the Dollar/Sac Mules (a well known error dealer is sitting on some raw ones) or many more of those? Mintage, mintage, mintage controls modern coin rarity pricing is my “mantra”. Just look at the “trajectory” of that 2001-D Cent/Dime mule (all within just 14 months) with each passing coin realized (and all coins at gem or better in PCGS holders: $114,000 to $78,000 to $66,000 to ??? in January, 2024?

Personally, I’ll wait for the Dollar/Sac Mule gems to come down to around $50,000 - an entry point I can live with.

Just my 2 cents.

Wondercoin.

While mintage! Mintage! Mintage! It's certainly important, so is publicity (hype?)

Note: I'm not saying I would want one at current levels.

davewesen

not me but I do find it interesting there are 3 die pairs for this ultra rarity

CoinHoarder

https://www.pcgs.com/cert/27460780

jmlanzaf

@davewesen said:
not me but I do find it interesting there are 3 die pairs for this ultra rarity

After 2 centuries with no mules, they accidentally made 3 in one year. Obvious shenanigans.

Byers

Actually…

There is a Flying Eagle Cent muled to an Indian Head Cent, PCGS, listed as a pattern with a Judd #…. But come on lol

And a 1994 muled Cent/ Dime

And a 1995 muled Cent/Dime

And a couple 2 tailed Dimes and Quarters

And several other regular die designs muled, a few that are known publicly and a few that aren’t.

fathom

Unimaginable incompetence can occur at a government facility, but three die pairs? C'mon....

FredWeinberg

The last time I talked to Tommy Bolock about all of his mules, a few years ago, he stated very strongly that they would stay in his Bolock museum in New Mexico – I don’t think they will come on the market for a few decades, at least, imo

I’m not aware of any “mini hordes” of these at all – I sold my last one, in a Heritage auction,
about a year and a half ago.

oih82w8

Byers

Forgot to mention this 2 Headed Nickel

Byers

What surprised me is that these 2 unique Sac $ mules both sold for under 100k!

JBK

Where did the "legit" ones come from? I have a couple hundreds - maybe a couple thousand - still in shotgun rolls. Am I potentially rich?

FredWeinberg

JBK- sorry, but no!

PhilArnold

@Steven59 said:

The new picture format looks great!

I agree!

telephoto1

More of these will be found. Bet on it. I heard of a mini hoard that's supposedly sitting in the Midwest a few years ago when having a convo at an ILNA show-the numbers I heard then varied from 6-10 pieces. But- who knows? At any rate- No way would I touch one anywhere near current levels because they've nowhere to go but down imo. And when the Bolock hoard eventually comes on the market, that alone will likely drop values if nothing else. Pieces like these have a fairly thin market at the top end. Too speculative for me given that there tons of unopened rolls out there.

flyguyfl

@davewesen said:
not me but I do find it interesting there are 3 die pairs for this ultra rarity

I would say so too!

johnny010

I’m the high bidder
**+edited
I was the high bidder and was just passed. 🤔

MWallace

@JBK said:
Pass. There's a spot on the obverse. I'll wait for a cleaner one.

The spot is probably from being found in a Wal-Mart parking lot. PMD
Also @OAKSTAR

redraider

Love the photos!!! GreatCollections will be a much stronger auction house with the investment they put in the photography!

gumby1234

NOPE. Im about 100K short and not of fan of shenanigan coins however cool they might be.

Farmer1961

Just my humble opinion but if I were gonna buy a modern rarity it would be a 1969-s doubled die cent for far less than these sell for.

Lakesammman

Would have been a bidder back when they were $30k, but wasn't sure the Gov't would let me keep it!

Onastone

@Byers said:
Forgot to mention this 2 Headed Nickel

I was wondering if anyone had any two headed coins. Not magician coins, bona fide dual headed coins. ( Also not talking' about the Jovita Idar quarter either!!)

Byers

It will be very interesting to see what these 2 mules, the Sac/Quarter and Cent/Dime, realize in their January 2025 auctions, since the population of each is slowly increasing.

Likely intentionally struck mint errors, U.S. mules are popular and very rare.

wondercoin

First, we need the 2024 sales info! 😝

Wondercoin

124Spider

It's a bit (?) above my pay grade. But it's a VERY cool error!

1madman

I think the bigger question here is why is the auction ending on a wednesday afternoon? Is greatcollections going to alternate auction days now?

1madman

One more mule in case you’ve got the itch for more!

https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-17BAR2/new-zealand-new-zealand-canada-mint-error-muled-with-canadian-dollar-reverse-50-cents-1985-winnipeg-mint-elizabeth-ii-pcgs

BuffaloIronTail

@davewesen said:
not me but I do find it interesting there are 3 die pairs for this ultra rarity

So do I.

Pete

Byers

I forgot to mention this intentional mint error mule when I listed the other ones:

Zoins

@Byers said:
I forgot to mention this intentional mint error mule when I listed the other ones:

Great coin Mike!

I had a lot of fun writing the census article for these a while ago

https://minterrornews.com/features-4-14-22-lincoln-dime-mule-census.html

Klif50

When these were first reported, I believe, there were reports of them showing up in the USPS stamp machines in change. I spent several hundred dollars putting in 10's and 20's, buying the cheapest stamps and grabbing the change looking for a mule. It was fun but a wasted several days.

Kurisu

19d, 1h, 42m, 26s left...

Current Bid: $52,500.00
I think it's absolutely lovely and I feel like it's going to go for over $100k.

I'm guessing... $105,000

Kurisu

Just a little update with a couple of days left on the bidding...

Bid history: 69 bids (view)
Time left: 2d, 5h, 59m, 16s (Sun, Jan 21, 2024 06:57:24 PM Pacific Time)
Current Bid: $77,500.00
High bidder: bidder 22

joeykoins

@Kurisu said:
Just a little update with a couple of days left on the bidding...

Bid history: 69 bids (view)
Time left: 2d, 5h, 59m, 16s (Sun, Jan 21, 2024 06:57:24 PM Pacific Time)
Current Bid: $77,500.00
High bidder: bidder 22

Nice but for that cash. I would rather have the complete set of CC Morgan Dollars. Graded too!

ctf_error_coins

Definitely on my watchlist, no way I bid. I just bought a house instead

keyman64

As much as I would love to be the owner of one of these coins, having six-figures for a house down payment this summer is more important. Being poor in the hobby of kings makes the game tough. I hope a certain forum member that is willing to chat with people here and share is able to walk away with it. That’s a lot more fun. I’ll be cheering him on.

Kurisu

It's moving!...

Time left: 1d, 6h, 1m, 15s (Sun, Jan 21, 2024 06:57:24 PM Pacific Time)
Current Bid: $82,500.00
High bidder: bidder 23

Kurisu

8 hours left...still time left for you to bid!!
Or make a prediction!

Time left: 8h, 0m, 0s (Sun, Jan 21, 2024 06:57:24 PM Pacific Time)
Current Bid: $82,500.00
High bidder: bidder 23

ifthevamzarockin

$92,500 with 27 minutes to go.

Byers

Winning bid with Buyer's Fee:

$ 194,062.50

Kurisu

@Byers said:
Winning bid with Buyer's Fee:

$ 194,062.50

Holy wow!!!
The high end of my prediction was $125k

alaura22

removed