1994 Gold Proof Two Pounds Rare Mule ErrorPlease see our 1994 Gold Proof £2 page for information, availability and pricing on the normal issue of this coin.Mule Error - Wrong ObverseMints are like any other factory, and make errors from time to time. In 1994, the British Royal Mint issued a gold proof version of its £2 commemorative coin for the 300th anniversary of the Bank of England. The wrong obverse (head side) die was used when production commenced. We do not know how many had been produced when the error was discovered, it may have been the entire 1,000 piece issue limit. Certainly a few hundred pieces had been despatched to customers before the error was found. We first heard in a telephone call from a Royal Mint customer.Asked for AdviceWe can remember quite clearly receiving a telephone call from a lady who had bought one direct from the Royal Mint. She had also received a letter from them explaining that there was an error, and asking her to return it for replacement. She wanted our advice on what to do. We have always found it strange and somewhat frustrating that people who choose to buy coins elsewhere turn to us for advice. We wonder why they don't buy their coins from us originally, however we try to give advice where possible.It was difficult for us to guess how many of the errors existed, and how many normal coins. Normally an important error like this one would command a premium price over the normal one, but it would depend on the relative quantities. If 90% of the entire production were errors, then the 10% of normal versions would probably be more valuable. We suggested that she kept the error, and asked to buy a normal coin in addition. We presume she kept the error. DesignsObverseThe Third PortraitThe obverse (head side) is the third major portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ralph David Maklouf, FRSA. It came into use in 1985 and continued until 1997 inclusive, a total of thirteen years. The obverse inscription reads: ELIZABETH II DEI GRA REG F D It omits the wording "TWO POUNDS" which should have been under the portrait. On the error coin, the portrait is also much larger than on the normal version. Wrong Two Pound CoinThe obverse die used in error was the one designed for use on the St. George and Dragon £2 proof gold coin of the same year. Both types of two pound coin have the same diameter and other physical specifications. Whatever codes or identifying marks are used on dies at the Royal Mint, it is likely that the "wrong" die was marked "1994 £2 Proof Obverse" or similar, and whoever identified it probably forgot that there were to be two different gold two pounds that year.Reverse DesignsThe reverse design of the muled error coin is identical to that on the normal coin, so we will not repeat our description here.EdgeThe edge is milled and without inscription, on both gold versions, although the base metal and silver proofs are inscribed:-SIC VOS NON VOBIS Technical Specifications
NotesThe mintage of 1,000 pieces shown above is the combined total of the two types issued, the "normal" gold proof issue and the rare "mule" error issue.We believe that about 300 of the mules may exist. Whatever the ratio between the two versions, both are rarer than they would otherwise have been. Prices & Availability
Mintage ResearchIn an effort to discover the quantities of each version in existence, we have started to record the certificate numbers of normal and error versions, which we show below. It is likely that a number of people returned their "faulty" coins to the Mint for replacement, so we suggest you do not place too much reliance on these figures until we have had chance to record a larger number of them.
You may wish to use our order form. Postage & PackingUK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per orderEU Insured Post £10 per order USA Airmail $10, Insured Shipping $20 Canada Airmail $15, Insured Shipping via Fedex $60 |
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Obverse of Normal 1994 Bank of England £2 Gold ProofTwo Pounds IndexOther Gold Two Pounds for Sale
Wrong Obverse Die Used on 1994 Mule £2 Gold Proof
Thistle on Reverse of 1994 Bank of England £2 Gold ProofTwo Pounds Information
Obverse and Reverse of Normal 1994 £2 Gold Proof
Obverse and Reverse of Mule 1994 £2 Gold Proof |
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