PART III. Die Installation Errors:

Mules:

Temporal / Transitional Mule:

1959D Lincoln cent with a wheat reverse

There is still an air of mystery surrounding this unique transitional coin. Many feel that this is counterfeit coin. However, the U.S. Mint has confirmed it to be a genuine cent.

The coin was discovered in Walnut Creek, California and originally sold for $1,200 in 1996.

CONCLUSIONS:

“Although the submitted 1959-D Lincoln Cent exhibits the wheat reverse, instead of the Mint specified memorial reverse, the submitted coin exhibits physical characteristics, such as device detail, metal flow, die polish, thickness, diameter, mass and composition, consistent with genuine 1958/59 Lincoln cents. Further, the submitted Lincoln/wheat cent does not exhibit any indications of alterations to the date or evidence of edge alteration, indicating that the submitted coin was a result of combining two genuine coins. Additionally, no characteristics associated with counterfeit coins, such as tool marks, file marks, raised metal or unusual oxidation (“toning”) were observed.”

“In the absence of any evidence that the submitted 1959-D Lincoln/wheat cent is not consistent with having been manufactured by the US Mint, the coin was determined to be a genuine mule (transitional) cent.”