Newfoundland/Canada, 1871H, 10-cent mule

The Newfoundland/Canada 1871H 10-cent mule. Like the mismatch between a donkey and a horse that produces a mule, this “mule” describes the mismatching of dies to mint a coin. This mule is an extremely rare coin, believed to be an accidental strike from the Heaton Mint. It is an incredible error, yet a subtle one. How many people in 1871 would have noticed this coin in their change and dismissed it as just another Canadian, or Newfoundland 10-cent coin? It took a coin collector to discover the mule and record its existence; without a numismatic eye on the matter, such an uncommon error might have passed completely unnoticed. The coin would likely have circulated until it was too worn to be even recognizable. This is in contrast to modern mules, which are discovered early on, and are normally found in mint or near-mint condition. While mintage of mules is low, there is no way of knowing how many copies of this coin were struck. It is quite possible that large numbers may have been struck, but that many of them were destroyed when they became too worn for circulation. Only two examples of the Newfoundland/Canada 1871H 10-cent mule are known to exist and both are in the National Currency Collection.

Technical Specifications:

Obverse: Die intended for Newfoundland coinage with portrait of Queen Victoria
and the Heaton mint mark below the bust.
Reverse: Die used for minting Canadian 10-cent coins bearing the date 1871 and
the Heaton mint mark below the wreath.
Edge: Reeded
Die axis: Coinage die axis.
Measurements: 18.05mm diameter; 2.27g weight.
Object ID: 1974.151.214