U.S. Currency Forum

seeburt · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:38 pm Post subject: What's a "Mule"?

I was looking at some online auction and found the term "mule" used to describe a 1$ star silver certificate. What does that refer too?

Thanks,
seeburt

Guest · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 9:18 am Post subject:

The "Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money: 1928 To Date" by Dean Oakes & John Schwartz, describes a Mule as a note that has a micro size check number on one side and a macro size number on the other. Micro numbers measure 0.6mm high wheareas the Macro numbers are 1mm high. All notes prior to 1938 used micro sized check numbers on both sides of a note. Macro sized numbers came about in January 1938 and rather than scrap the old plates bearing the micro sized numbers, the BEP continued using many of the old plates up until 1953. Thus producing notes with a micro size check number on one side and a macro size number on the other. Mules exist on every denomination from $1 to $10,000.