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Mules on small size notes do appear at first to be kinda nitpicky. But most small size collectors recognize them as major types. The Standard Guide to Small Size paper money similarly treats them significant types, much as it treats the various series.
For FRNs and Silver Certificates ($5 and up), it is important to consider that the sole difference between series 1934 and 1934A is the change in size of the plate numbers (micro to macro). Everything else (signature of Treasury officials, design, etc) remains exactly the same. See Below The BEP thought the change from micro to macro was that important.
1934 Series Front
1934A Series Front
So, for mule notes what you have is the pairing of front of one series with the back of a different series. Some mules are rare, others are the norm. In some cases (like 1934 $5 FRNs) the non-mules are actually quite scarce and almost all notes you find are mules
Hence mules are (imo) major varieties, even if the difference initially seems very "small."
1934 Series Front Plate Number
1934A Series Front Plate Number
1934 Series Back Plate Number -- note lighter shade of green
1934A Series Back Plate Number -- note darker green color
Small size note collecting in general has seen a large increase in interest during the last 5-6 years. As some of these new collectors become more serious about collecting small size notes (it is sort of a creeping disease), their attention is inexorably drawn toward mules. It is an intriguing subject that draws you in to a more serious understanding of the subject of how our currency was made. Small size and in particular mules, the related "late finished backs," and even design changes is a field rife with new discoveries. It is still a field where a bit of knowledge will take you a long way and where undiscovered and unique notes can occasionally be plucked off eBay.
If you followed the Link that Jim's (Smallsizedguy) post, there is shown the same differences between micro and macro plate numbers, but with one important difference. Jim shows a back plate number 629.
Here is a 637 Back plate number on a 1934B:
So, what is all the excitement about that?
Well plate numbers were prepared and put into production generally in numerical order. Back plates 629 and 637 should have been used years before macro plate numbers ever came into being. But by a fluke, these two plates were put into production years later, at a time when everything had pretty much been switched to macro (and the actual plate numbers were already well into the 4 digits).
As a result, these two plates (from a bygone era) began to be paired with 1934A, 1934B and even 1934C series notes. The result was some very interesting mules and occasionally great rarities. The 629 backs are just such great rarities and can be found on $5 FRNs, $5 USNs and $5 SCs.
The 1934 Non-Mules are what I like to think of as "underdogs" of the $5.00 FRNs. They don't receive much notice from most small size collectors, but are somewhat to very scarce and have interesting attributes.
I was fortunate to buy a small run of lightly circulated (but very original) 1934 Philadelphia FRNs recently that included and illustrated all the varieties very well.
1934 Light Green Seal
Everyone likes these Light Green Seals. But many do not notice that -- like their 1928 series predecessors -- the ink used on the back of these notes is a lighter shade of green. They also sport micro (0.6 mm) back plate numbers (same size as the front).
1934 Dark Green Seal Non Mule
Has Micro front and back plate numbers and the lighter shade green back.
1934 Dark Green Seal Mule
These are by far the most commonly seen 1934 $5 FRN and have the darker green reverses with the Macro (1 mm) plate numbers.
The Non-Mule Stars can be very scarce to rare. And a small number of 637 Non-Mule backs are known, but are all considered quite rare (and sorry to say none were found in this grouping).
A fellow forum member was generous enough to agree to sell me a hugely significant note that has been missing from my collection. In fact, because this note is unique, I had held little hope of ever "filling" this hole in my collection. Now, I'm kinda bursting with joy and had to share it with fellow collectors and those small size specialists who might appreciate it. To my knowledge, there are only two $5 1934A FRN Mule Stars known -- from all 12 districts combined. The other is a CU example from Chicago.
1934A San Francisco Star
1934A San Francisco Star Mule
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So what is all the excitement about mules?
Mules on small size notes do appear at first to be kinda nitpicky. But most small size collectors recognize them as major types. The Standard Guide to Small Size paper money similarly treats them significant types, much as it treats the various series.
For FRNs and Silver Certificates ($5 and up), it is important to consider that the sole difference between series 1934 and 1934A is the change in size of the plate numbers (micro to macro). Everything else (signature of Treasury officials, design, etc) remains exactly the same. See Below The BEP thought the change from micro to macro was that important.
1934 Series Front
1934A Series Front
So, for mule notes what you have is the pairing of front of one series with the back of a different series. Some mules are rare, others are the norm. In some cases (like 1934 $5 FRNs) the non-mules are actually quite scarce and almost all notes you find are mules
Hence mules are (imo) major varieties, even if the difference initially seems very "small."
1934 Series Front Plate Number
1934A Series Front Plate Number
1934 Series Back Plate Number -- note lighter shade of green
1934A Series Back Plate Number -- note darker green color
Small size note collecting in general has seen a large increase in interest during the last 7-10 years. As some of these new collectors become more serious about collecting small size notes (it is sort of a creeping disease), their attention is inexorably drawn toward mules. It is an intriguing subject that draws you in to a more serious understanding of the subject of how our currency was made. Small size and in particular mules, the related "late finished backs," and even design changes is a field rife with new discoveries. It is still a field where a bit of knowledge will take you a long way and where undiscovered and unique notes can occasionally be plucked off eBay.
Printing plates were prepared, numbered, and put into production generally in numerical order. Back plates 629 and 637 should have been used years before macro plate numbers ever came into being. But by a fluke, these two plates were put into production years later, at a time when everything had pretty much been switched to macro (and the actual plate numbers were already well into the 4 digits).
Mules (and 637 back plate non-mules) exist for $5 1934, 1934A, 1934B and 1934C FRNS, $5 1934B and 1934C Silver Certificates, and $5 1928D and 1928E United States Notes. Back Plate 637 was used a wide variety of these notes, but back plate 629's use was very limited and is only found on $5 1934C FRNs, 1934C SCs and 1928E USNs.
It is the large number of varieties found in the 1934, 1934A, 1934B and 1934C series that makes it such a rich field for collectors and provides incredible challenges.
1934C Chicago with Back Plate 629
US Small Size Notes Information 637 and 629 page
1934 Light Green Seal
1934 Light Green Seal Star
1934 Dark Green Seal Non-Mule
1934 Dark Green Seal Non-Mule Star
1934 Dark Green Seal Mule
1934 Dark Green Seal Mule Star
1934A L-A Block
1934A L-B Block
[/URL]
1934A Star
1934A Mule Star
[
1934B L-A Block
1934B L-B Block
1934B Star
1934B Mule
1934C
1934C Star "place holder"
1934C Back Plate 637 Mule
[/URL]
1934C Back Plate 629 Mule
1934D
1934D Star
For FRNs and Silver Certificates ($5 and up), it is important to consider that the sole difference between series 1934 and 1934A is the change in size of the plate numbers (micro to macro). Everything else (signature of Treasury officials, design, etc) remains exactly the same. See Below The BEP thought the change from micro to macro was that important.
1934 Series Front
1934A Series Front
So, for mule notes what you have is the pairing of front of one series with the back of a different series. Some mules are rare, others are the norm. In some cases (like 1934 $5 FRNs) the non-mules are actually quite scarce and almost all notes you find are mules
Hence mules are (imo) major varieties, even if the difference initially seems very "small."
1934 Series Front Plate Number
1934A Series Front Plate Number
1934 Series Back Plate Number -- note lighter shade of green
1934A Series Back Plate Number -- note darker green color
Small size note collecting in general has seen a large increase in interest during the last 5-6 years. As some of these new collectors become more serious about collecting small size notes (it is sort of a creeping disease), their attention is inexorably drawn toward mules. It is an intriguing subject that draws you in to a more serious understanding of the subject of how our currency was made. Small size and in particular mules, the related "late finished backs," and even design changes is a field rife with new discoveries. It is still a field where a bit of knowledge will take you a long way and where undiscovered and unique notes can occasionally be plucked off eBay.
If you followed the Link that Jim's (Smallsizedguy) post, there is shown the same differences between micro and macro plate numbers, but with one important difference. Jim shows a back plate number 629.
Here is a 637 Back plate number on a 1934B:
So, what is all the excitement about that?
Well plate numbers were prepared and put into production generally in numerical order. Back plates 629 and 637 should have been used years before macro plate numbers ever came into being. But by a fluke, these two plates were put into production years later, at a time when everything had pretty much been switched to macro (and the actual plate numbers were already well into the 4 digits).
As a result, these two plates (from a bygone era) began to be paired with 1934A, 1934B and even 1934C series notes. The result was some very interesting mules and occasionally great rarities. The 629 backs are just such great rarities and can be found on $5 FRNs, $5 USNs and $5 SCs.
The 1934 Non-Mules are what I like to think of as "underdogs" of the $5.00 FRNs. They don't receive much notice from most small size collectors, but are somewhat to very scarce and have interesting attributes.
I was fortunate to buy a small run of lightly circulated (but very original) 1934 Philadelphia FRNs recently that included and illustrated all the varieties very well.
1934 Light Green Seal
Everyone likes these Light Green Seals. But many do not notice that -- like their 1928 series predecessors -- the ink used on the back of these notes is a lighter shade of green. They also sport micro (0.6 mm) back plate numbers (same size as the front).
1934 Dark Green Seal Non Mule
Has Micro front and back plate numbers and the lighter shade green back.
1934 Dark Green Seal Mule
These are by far the most commonly seen 1934 $5 FRN and have the darker green reverses with the Macro (1 mm) plate numbers.
The Non-Mule Stars can be very scarce to rare. And a small number of 637 Non-Mule backs are known, but are all considered quite rare (and sorry to say none were found in this grouping).
A fellow forum member was generous enough to agree to sell me a hugely significant note that has been missing from my collection. In fact, because this note is unique, I had held little hope of ever "filling" this hole in my collection. Now, I'm kinda bursting with joy and had to share it with fellow collectors and those small size specialists who might appreciate it. To my knowledge, there are only two $5 1934A FRN Mule Stars known -- from all 12 districts combined. The other is a CU example from Chicago.
1934A San Francisco Star
1934A San Francisco Star Mule
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So what is all the excitement about mules?
Mules on small size notes do appear at first to be kinda nitpicky. But most small size collectors recognize them as major types. The Standard Guide to Small Size paper money similarly treats them significant types, much as it treats the various series.
For FRNs and Silver Certificates ($5 and up), it is important to consider that the sole difference between series 1934 and 1934A is the change in size of the plate numbers (micro to macro). Everything else (signature of Treasury officials, design, etc) remains exactly the same. See Below The BEP thought the change from micro to macro was that important.
1934 Series Front
1934A Series Front
So, for mule notes what you have is the pairing of front of one series with the back of a different series. Some mules are rare, others are the norm. In some cases (like 1934 $5 FRNs) the non-mules are actually quite scarce and almost all notes you find are mules
Hence mules are (imo) major varieties, even if the difference initially seems very "small."
1934 Series Front Plate Number
1934A Series Front Plate Number
1934 Series Back Plate Number -- note lighter shade of green
1934A Series Back Plate Number -- note darker green color
Small size note collecting in general has seen a large increase in interest during the last 7-10 years. As some of these new collectors become more serious about collecting small size notes (it is sort of a creeping disease), their attention is inexorably drawn toward mules. It is an intriguing subject that draws you in to a more serious understanding of the subject of how our currency was made. Small size and in particular mules, the related "late finished backs," and even design changes is a field rife with new discoveries. It is still a field where a bit of knowledge will take you a long way and where undiscovered and unique notes can occasionally be plucked off eBay.
Printing plates were prepared, numbered, and put into production generally in numerical order. Back plates 629 and 637 should have been used years before macro plate numbers ever came into being. But by a fluke, these two plates were put into production years later, at a time when everything had pretty much been switched to macro (and the actual plate numbers were already well into the 4 digits).
Mules (and 637 back plate non-mules) exist for $5 1934, 1934A, 1934B and 1934C FRNS, $5 1934B and 1934C Silver Certificates, and $5 1928D and 1928E United States Notes. Back Plate 637 was used a wide variety of these notes, but back plate 629's use was very limited and is only found on $5 1934C FRNs, 1934C SCs and 1928E USNs.
It is the large number of varieties found in the 1934, 1934A, 1934B and 1934C series that makes it such a rich field for collectors and provides incredible challenges.
1934C Chicago with Back Plate 629
US Small Size Notes Information 637 and 629 page
1934 Light Green Seal
1934 Light Green Seal Star
1934 Dark Green Seal Non-Mule
1934 Dark Green Seal Non-Mule Star
1934 Dark Green Seal Mule
1934 Dark Green Seal Mule Star
1934A L-A Block
1934A L-B Block
[/URL]1934A Star
1934A Mule Star
[
1934B L-A Block
1934B L-B Block
1934B Star
1934B Mule
1934C
1934C Star "place holder"
1934C Back Plate 637 Mule
[/URL]1934C Back Plate 629 Mule
1934D
1934D Star
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