1860 F9 Mule (Gouby D+b; Freeman 2+B) (R18 – but now the rarer end of R17)
Note: Toothed obverse paired with beaded reverse
Paul Holland notes that at least two pairs of working dies were used to strike this variety, suggesting that “relatively little precaution was taken to avoid the ‘muling’ of toothed and beaded dies.”
Die pairing 1
Obverse 2 with a long die crack from the border tooth near the base of the thistle to the inner hair ribbon
Reverse B with a die crack or clash mark between the back of the helmet and the plume (see below)
Die pairing 2
Obverse 2 with a doubling of the D of F:D: showing spurs inside the D
Reverse B with a branching of the linear circle through several beads below the lighthouse (see below)
In the 2003 edition of his book “The Early British Bronze ‘Bun’ Pennies 1860 to 1865 and their Varieties”, John Jerrams’ census (up to September 2001) recorded 17 specimens.
Example 1
Sold by Croydon Coin Auction in July 2000
Example 2
Sold by Dix, Noonan & Webb in June 2006 as part of the Laurie Bamford collection
Example 3
Sold by Colin Cooke in September 2009 as part of the Tony Crocker collection
ex-Terry Stefl collection (Baldwins May 2008 lot 2562)
Example 4
Sold by London Coins in June 2011
Example 4
Sold by Spink US in June 2014 as part of the Gerald Jackson collection
Example 5
Sold by London Coins in September 2014 and again in June 2017
Example 6
Sold by Spink in December 2014 as part of the Trevor Legge collection
Example 7
Sold in January 2015 by Heritage Auctions
Example 8
Sold by Spink in September 2015 as part of the Andy Scott collection
Example 9
Sold by London Coins in December 2015
Example 10
Sold by London Coins in March 2016 as part of the Elstree collection
Example 11
Sold by London Coins in June 2017 (for £643-50)
Resold by London Coins in December 2021 (for £877-50)
Example 12
Held in a private collection
Example 13
Sold on Ebay
Example 14
Sold on Ebay
Example 15
Sold on Ebay
Example 16
Offered on Ebay
Example 17
Photographs courtesy of Martin Platt
Example 18
Held in a private collection
Example 19
Sold by London Coins auction September 2019 (for £1111-50)
Example 20
Included on Cooper’s Coins list February 2020
Example 21
Held in a private collection
Example 22
Listed on Ebay in February 2021
Example 23
Sold in May 2024 as part of the Geoffrey Cope collection (for £4806)