Rare Sacagawea Dollar 'Mule' Is Among NGC and PMG Collectibles in Long Beach Auctions

US, world and ancient coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) and banknotes certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) are expected to attract significant interest from bidders at the Long Beach Expo of coins, currency and other collectibles.

One of the strangest and best-known US coins consigned to the auctions is a rare mint error certified by NGC. It’s an example a coin minted with a Washington Quarter obverse design on one side and the eagle design from the reverse of the Sacagawea Dollar on the other. It was struck on the manganese-based alloy planchet used for the Sacagawea Dollar.

This mule combines the obverse of a Washington Quarter, left, with the reverse of a Sacagawea $1, right. Click images to enlarge.

The so-called “mule” of a 2000 Sacagawea Dollar and a Washington Quarter is graded NGC Mint Error MS 67 and is one of only 18 examples known.

Another US coin with an interesting backstory is an 1817/4 Bust Half Dollar that is only the 11th known example of this rare variety, which was created when a leftover 1814-dated die was reused by punching a 7 over the final digit. Incredibly, this rare coin was discovered by a contractor in 2005 while raking a load of dirt in upstate New York.

This 1817/4 Bust Half Dollar was created when a leftover 1814-dated die was reused by punching a 7 over the final digit. The coin was discovered by a contractor in 2005 while raking a load of dirt. It is graded NGC XF Details, Environmental Damage, because of corrosion caused from its time being buried. Click images to enlarge.

The 1817/4 50 Cent is graded NGC XF Details, Environmental Damage, because of corrosion caused from its time being buried.

The 1928 $50 Gold Certificate graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ. Click images to enlarge.

The US currency offered in the sale include a 1928 $50 Gold Certificate graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ. One of only three Uncirculated examples known, the note is estimated to sell for $80,000 to $100,000.

Other highlights are an 1861 $10 Demand Note graded PMG 25 Very Fine, which has an estimate of $60,000 and up, and an 1866 Salem, North Carolina, First National Bank $5 graded PMG 25 Very Fine , which has an estimate of $50,000 to $80,000.

A lot of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 1,000 Rijksdaalders notes from Indonesia in 1810 carries an estimate of $125,000 to $175,000. Click images to enlarge.

A lot with a set of six 1810 Netherlands East Indies banknotes graded PMG 30 Very Fine to PMG 40 Extremely Fine is likely to be among the lots of world paper money attracting intense interest from bidders. The square-to-vertical rectangles with writing in Dutch and Malay Arabic script were issued by the Dutch governor general of the Netherlands’ Asian possessions. The lot of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 1,000 Rijksdaalders notes carries an estimate of $125,000 to $175,000.

Another world currency rarity, a 1929 Palestine Currency Board 50 Pound note graded PMG 30 Very Fine, has an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000.

Two lots of East African Currency Board notes also have five-figure estimates. A 1921 Mombasa 1,000 Shillings = 50 Pounds graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated has an estimate of $50,000 to $75,000 and a 1921 Mombasa 200 Shillings = 10 Pounds graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated has an estimate of $25,000 to $40,000.

Among the ancient coins is an Avitus Western Roman Empire (455-456 AD) old Solidus graded NGC Ancients XF with 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface. The 1,500-year-old coin struck in what is now Arles, France, is still clearly marked with a depiction of Emperor Avitus on the obverse and, on the reverse, the emperor victoriously holding a captive under his foot. The coin has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.

The sales presented by Heritage Auctions are scheduled for Sept. 3-9 online and at the Long Beach Convention Center. They are divided into sales of US currency, US coins, world and ancient coins and world paper money.

All estimates are provided by the auction house.