Rare error on large modern coin identified by NGC, confirmed by Royal Canadian Mint
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) recently certified an “extremely unusual mule error” of the 2017 $2,500 gold kilogram “In the Eyes of the Timber Wolf” coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint.
A mule is a numismatic error in which the two sides of a coin were incorrectly paired. In this case, the large gold coin was struck with the obverse intended for the silver kilogram, which bears a denomination of $250 instead of the correct $2,500 denomination.
Modern coins struck with incorrect denominations are “virtually unheard of,” according to NGC. Adding to the significance of this piece is its low mintage—only 10 coins—and its high intrinsic value, which is about $40,000 USD at current gold prices. The mintage of the silver coins was also low with only 400 pieces.
The mule was struck with the obverse (shown above) intended for the $250 silver kilogram coin.
AS MANY AS FOUR EXAMPLES
After NGC received the coin for certification, it contacted the Mint for further information.
In a statement, Mint officials confirmed as many as four of these mules may have been inadvertently struck and shipped to customers.
The silver and gold kilogram (32.15 troy ounces) Timber Wolf coins share a nearly identical reverse: the head of a northern timber wolf, staring straight ahead, creating a captivating effect. The eyes of the wolf, however, are colored differently on the two coins. On the silver coins they are gold-toned while on the gold coins they are green.
The error that was submitted to NGC received a grade of NGC Proof-70 Ultra Cameo. With a diameter of 101.6 mm (about four times the diameter of a U.S. quarter), it was encapsulated in an NGC “oversize holder” with a label that bears a description of the error and the coin’s grade.