Owner Comments:
Mint: San Francisco
Mint Mark: "S"
Designer: Melicio Figueroa
Engraver: Charles Barber
Composition: Copper-Nickel
Weight: 5.2500g
Diameter: 20.5 mm
Edge: Plain
Pedigree: Ex: The Mahal Collection (Also known as the "Just Having Fun Collection")
In 1907 the rising price of silver necessitated a reduction in the fineness, size, and weight of U.S. Philippine silver coinage. The size of the Twenty Centavos was reduced from 23 mm to 20 mm, which was only .5 mm smaller than the then circulating Five Centavo coin. Since all U.S. Philippine coins used the same basic reverse design mix-ups were bound to happen. In 1918 a Twenty Centavo reverse die was accidently paired with a regular Five Centavo obverse die. The reverse of the resulting Mule coin has a smaller date and wider shield than the normal Five Centavo coin. Although the exact number of Muled coins that were produced before the error was discovered is unknown few specimens survive today and most are well worn. Mint state examples of the 1918-S Five Centavo Mule are very rare. NGC and PCGS combined have certified only 71 examples of the 1918-S Mule in any grade and only 17 of these have been Mint State. Of the Mint State examples only eight have graded Choice Mint State of higher.
This sharply defined light gray example has brilliant luster and excellent eye appeal. This specimen is pedigreed from the famous Mahal Collection (also known as the "Just Having Fun Collection").
PCGS Population: 4 in MS 63, 3 finer (6/2020)
NGC Population: None in MS63, 2 finer (8/16/2020)
PCGS/NGC Combined Total: 4 in MS63, 5 finer (8/16/2020)