2001-D 1C Lincoln Cent -- Muled With a Roosevelt Dime Reverse -- MS66 Red PCGS....

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

2001-D 1C 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.

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