Sommer Is Shilling W-15545 C-N Mule Kenney-13 Dickeson Copy

Coin Details

Description

A copper-nickel (C-N) mule of the Sommer Islands Shilling series cataloged as W-15545 and Kenney-13, the second copper-nickel variety in the Dickeson copy mule series (after Kenney-9/W-15525). This is also the highest-numbered Kenney variety commonly cataloged, representing the culmination of the documented mule classification. The W-15545/Kenney-13 mule uses a different die combination than the earlier Kenney-9 copper-nickel mule, though both share the silvery-white appearance and excellent durability characteristic of the copper-nickel alloy. The hard composition resists the surface deterioration that plagues white metal examples, making copper-nickel mules among the best-preserved pieces in the series. Dickeson's Sommer Islands mule series, spanning Kenney numbers from 1 through 13 (with gaps), documents at least 13 distinct die combinations across four metals: copper, brass, white metal, and copper-nickel. This remarkable diversity from a single mid-19th-century numismatic project reflects both Dickeson's dedication to variety and the collecting community's appetite for unusual die pairings. The W-15545/Kenney-13 copper-nickel mule serves as the capstone of the cataloged Kenney series. Collectors who acquire this variety alongside its 12 predecessors possess a comprehensive survey of Dickeson's Sommer Islands die combinations, documenting one of the most systematic colonial reproduction programs in American numismatic history.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The highest commonly-cataloged Kenney mule variety; copper-nickel examples survive in relatively good condition but are scarce.

Cross References

W-15545; Kenney-13; Dickeson Copy Mule series; Original: Sommer Islands Shilling, circa 1616