Imagine finding a penny in your pocket that’s worth more than a luxury car. 🚗💎 That’s exactly what happened when a 2001-D Lincoln Cent/Dime Mule Error sold for an incredible $114,000!
With only two confirmed examples known to exist, this minting mistake is one of the rarest and most valuable modern U.S. error coins ever discovered. And here’s the kicker—you could still stumble upon one in your spare change, coin rolls, or old collections.
🔥 The $114,000 Minting Mistake
- Type: 2001-D Lincoln Cent/Dime Mule Error
- Obverse (front): Normal 2001-D penny with Lincoln’s portrait 🪙
- Reverse (back): Dime design (torch, olive branch, oak branch)
- Weight: 2.5 grams (same as a regular penny)
- Confirmed Population: Only 2 known coins
- Auction Record: $114,000 (PCGS MS-66 grade)
👉 Why so valuable? Because this is a “mule error”—a catastrophic mint accident where mismatched coin dies were paired together. It’s the kind of mistake that should never have left the Mint, which makes it a collector’s dream.
🔍 How to Identify the 2001 Mule Penny
Here’s how to quickly spot this once-in-a-lifetime error:
✅ Date & Mintmark: Must read 2001-D
✅ Reverse Design: Instead of the Lincoln Memorial, you’ll see the dime’s torch and branches
✅ Weight: ~2.5g (like a penny, not a dime)
✅ Edge: Smooth (pennies don’t have reeding like dimes)
💡 Pro Tip: Lay it side by side with a regular 2001-D penny—the difference will be obvious.
💵 Auction Records & Market Value
| Grade | Sale Price |
|---|---|
| MS-66 | $114,000 |
| AU-55 | $66,000 |
📈 Market Insight: If another specimen ever surfaces, experts believe it could sell for $150,000 or more.
⚠️ Watch Out for Fakes
Because this coin is so rare, counterfeiters have tried to cash in. Don’t fall for these tricks:
❌ Glued coins (look for adhesive under magnification)
❌ Electroplated fakes (wrong weight or surface texture)
❌ Suspicious eBay deals (if it looks too good to be true, it probably is)
✔ Always buy or sell with PCGS or NGC certification.
✔ Compare details to the two verified specimens.
🌎 Where Could One Be Hiding?
Believe it or not, one of the two known examples was discovered in a grandfather’s old coin jar after sitting unnoticed for decades!
Here are the best places to look:
- 🏦 Original 2001-D bank rolls (ask tellers for older stock)
- 📚 Childhood coin folders (many kids collected state quarters & pennies in the early 2000s)
- 🛍 Junk bins at coin shops (yes, even dealers miss big errors sometimes)
🚨 What to Do If You Find One
If you think you’ve struck gold, follow these steps:
- Handle only by the edges (or use cotton gloves 🧤).
- Photograph the coin under bright light.
- Submit immediately to PCGS or NGC for authentication.
- Consign to Heritage Auctions or another top auction house.
⚠️ Never clean the coin. Even a light wipe can erase up to $50,000+ in value.
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