The U.S. Mint doesn?t catch every error. One that got past inspection was a 1999 Lincoln cent mule that will be offered in Heritage Auction Galleries? Central States Numismatic Society?s April 26-29 2006 convention.
The piece, graded MS-66 Red by Professional Coin Grading Service, is described as a 1999 Lincoln cent obverse die muled with a Roosevelt dime reverse on a Lincoln cent planchet.
?This incredible error, which hails from Part Two of the Bellaire Collection, somehow escaped the scrutiny of Mint employees,? said Greg Rohan, president of Heritage.
Publicized in Numismatic News and other hobby publications, this piece is one of only ?a handful of U.S. mules? that are known to exist, according to Rohan. It was discovered in Erie, Penn., in a roll of 1999 cents obtained from a local bank.
For more information, visit www.HeritageAuctions.com. For an auction catalog, contact Nicole Jewell by calling (800) 872-6467, ext. 272.