1932 Assay Commission Medal - JK-AC-77, Bronze, Mount Vernon Mule

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,560 MS69 03-25-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1932 Assay Commission medal in bronze, cataloged as JK-AC-77, is described as a "Mount Vernon Mule" — a numismatic term indicating that the obverse and reverse dies were not the originally intended pairing. Mule medals occur when dies from different issues or years are accidentally or deliberately combined, creating a piece with mismatched designs. In the context of the 1932 Assay Commission medals, the mule combines the Mount Vernon obverse from JK-AC-76 with a reverse from a different year or a different die intended for another purpose. Mule medals are prized by specialists because they document the internal workings of the Mint's die management system and provide evidence of production practices that are otherwise invisible. The 1932 date saw multiple Assay Commission medal variants due to the Washington bicentennial celebrations, increasing the likelihood of die mixing. This bronze mule represents one of the most unusual entries in the entire JK-AC series.

Rarity Notes

JK-AC-77, bronze composition. Mule medal with mismatched dies. Extremely rare — mule Assay Commission medals are among the scarcest varieties in the series. A significant die variety for specialists.

Cross References

PCGS #972642; JK-AC-77; Mount Vernon Mule; 1932 Assay Commission; Die mule variety