Q. David Bowers Discusses Mule Error on CBS and NBC

Q. David Bowers, President of Bowers and Merena Auctions and Galleries, appeared on the Today Show and CBS Network News on Friday, June 16, 2000 to discuss the most talked about U.S. mint error in recent history. The Philadelphia Mint struck and released into circulation a mule error. This is believed to be the first double-denomination (two currencies on one coin) mule error struck by the Mint in its 208-year history.

The coin has the obverse of a Washington quarter and the reverse of a Sacagawea dollar. The obverse die of a quarter was apparently inadvertently placed into the press. With the intention to mint Sacagawea dollars, the coin has the golden colored planchet of the dollar coin.

The error was discovered by a newspaper editor in an uncirculated roll of dollars purchased from the First National Bank & Trust in Mountain Home, Arkansas. When asked by Matt Lauer of the Today Show what the coin’s value is, Bowers enthusiastically replied that if the coin is unique, he would write a check for at least $50,000. Even if several more mules are discovered, they still may be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Q. David Bowers is the most famous rare coin dealer of all time. His firm, Bowers and Merena Auctions and Galleries, has auctioned every United States coin issue. Bowers and Merena has been responsible for seven of the ten highest public auction sales of an individual United States coin.

Q. David Bowers is a recipient of the Pennsylvania State University College of Business Administration's Alumni Achievement Award (1976), has served as president of the American Numismatic Association (1983-1985) and president of the Professional Numismatist Guild (1977-1979), is a recipient of the highest honor bestowed by the ANA (the Farran Zerbe Award), was the first ANA member to be named Numismatist of the Year (1995), has been inducted into the ANA's Numismatic Hall of Fame, and has received more "Book of the Year Award" and "Best Columnist" honors given by the Numismatic Literary Guild than has any other writer. The most prolific coin writer in numismatic history, he is the author of 40 books, hundreds of auction and other catalogs, and several thousand articles including columns in Coin World and The Numismatist. The July, 1999 issue of Coinage Magazine named Q. David Bowers one of the top "Numismatists of the Century."