2014 Sovereign Mule

[Mycoins]

In 2014 the Royal Mint by mistake issued a certain number of sovereigns with proof reverse and a adverse in business strike- quality. Are there any records regarding the mintigfigures for this " mule- edition " ?

[Mr T]

Where did you hear about it?

[Rob]

Can it be genuinely described as a mule? There is nothing wrong with using a proof die for currency once the proof run has finished as you would expect to have a perfectly good die that could be used again. You certainly wouldn't deface the fields to produce a 'current' die.

[youliveyoulean]

I'm pretty certain it is around 398 - that would be all of the 400 sovereigns struck on the day of Prince George's 1st birthday less the 2 that didn't sell (there was a maximum coin mintage of 400 with only 398 released).

Hi Rob, from memory the appearance is most definitely proof ie highly polished blank on one side only which has been struck at least twice so I assume the different proof / non-proof strike is deliberate. What dies were used I've no idea. I say deliberate as I think this also took place on the double sovereigns of the same year and also on other sovereigns of recent years. 

Probably not a mule but that is what the grading companies and many dealers have labelled it (PCGS describe the coin as "mule - incorrect obverse die"). The Royal mint describe the coin as BU in the corresponding booklet.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mr T]

Bit of a late addendum to this but I saw one for sale recently having completely forgotten about this discussion: https://www.drakesterling.com/great-britain-2014-proof-sovereign-unfinished-obverse-die-pcgs-pr69dcam-49827332

That's a PR69 ($1,950 AUD) but a a PR70 on eBay is listed for $9,824 AUD: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/395996106783?srsltid=AfmBOor8ObE0gPXpWPt6sVdeNc_GdrfHCxiG8iSAFyNExnT7lVl8hVI0

Apparently is happened again in 2015 and 2016 too which seems quite unusual: https://www.thesilverforum.com/topic/38823-2014-mule-sovereign-anyone-know-how-many-of-these-error-coins-were-minted/

Edited January 19 by Mr T

[Mr T]

Ah, not sure why the links don't want to link - and editing tells me that I can't edit the links.

edit: don't mind me - got them working one by one instead of all at once.

Edited January 19 by Mr T

[VickySilver]

A mule would be as in the case of the 2002 proof 1/10 oz. Britannia proof with the obverse type head of 1998. Does anyone know the mintage of that little bit?

[Exbrit]

Wasn’t aware of these - thanks for sharing.

[Mr T]

Not sure about the 2002 1/10oz - I feel like all these modern mules tend to get surprisingly little coverage - maybe because they're made for collector coins rather than circulating?