Educational thread, 1934 $10 mules +

[Early Star FanaticAdmin]

Beginning in early 1938, plate numbers were re sized from .6mm to 1mm. Some of these note were printed with two different plate sizes, creating mules.

The first $1 SC mules were printed in January 1938. The first $10 1934 FRN mules were numbered in April 1938.

The first macro back was 585, and there were three groups of mule printings.

Group one contained the earliest mules. micro backs 547 to 581 came on board January 06, 1938. On February 17, 1938, 582 to 592 came on board, with the first mules. March 22, 1938 brought plates 621 to 625.

Group two brought plates 626 to 625 on January 03, 1939. By June 07, 1939, plates to 658 were produced.

Group three had plates 659 to 653 in October of 1939, and by May 01, 1940, plates were above 664.

Highest possible 1934 mule backs:

Boston: 8/21/1939: 658
New York: 3/02/1939: 645
Philadelphia: 7/24/1939: 658
Cleveland:  9/01/1939: 658
Richmond: 7/26/1938: 625
Atlanta: 6/25/1945: 1000>
Chicago: 8/16/1939: 658
St. Louis: 12/20/1940: 698
Minneapolis: 8/22/1944: 1000>
Kansas City: 12/15/1944: 1000>
Dallas: 2/26/1946: 1000>
San Francisco: 10/07/1940: 698

This exercise will only pertain to mule star notes.

There are many 1934 $10 mule star notes that are extremely rare, to even unique or nearly so. Strangely, the 1934A mule stars get far more appreciation than their 1934 mule counter parts.

Another interesting factoid is that the Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Dallas star notes almost always come from the 1940's production. The three mentioned districts, are almost impossible to locate from the 1938 and 1939 production. The 1934A non mules are also impossible to locate from early runs.

Images:



Only three Philadelphia stars are known: A F/VF, an EF, and this top pop note.



Chicago is a tough district as well. This one is a very early printing, from May of 1938



Another early mule. This one is from the very first run of I star mules, also in May of 1938.



One more very early mule, and by far the earliest known for Kansas City. This note was printed in December of 1938, and has back 589, while the Minneapolis above has back 601.

[robjon]

Where do you get your data from ?

[Early Star FanaticAdmin]

Some of this data comes from friends, other data I have been able to get from the BEP or National Archives.

[robjon]

Thanks for your reply.
What are the rarest to most common mule stars ?

[Early Star FanaticAdmin]

A star: 6 known
B star: 4 known
C star: 3 known
D star: two known
E star: unique so far !!
F star: two known
G star: 6 known
H star: 4 known
I star: 9 known
J star: 11 known (most in CU)
K star: 6 known
L star: 8 known

TOTAL to date: 62

Based on data above, E  star is rarest, while J star is most common. D star is second rarest, C star, are third rarest, B star and H star are tied for fourth rarest. A star, G star, and K star are all tied for fifth rarest, and I star and L star are tied for second most common.

[Early Star FanaticAdmin]

1934A mules were also printed at this time as well, but because micro backs wore out in 1941.

Despite their shorter printing span, they are similar in rarity to the 1934 plain mules.

A star and H star are unique so far.
D star and I star: Two
C star and E star: four.
B star: 7
G star: 11

Total 32 notes, but only eight districts.

Half of the 1934 mules are as rare as the four rarest 1934A mules, but do not get nearly the recognition of the 1934A's for some reason.

[Greenback]

The first macro back was 585, and there were three groups of mule printings.

Group one contained the earliest mules. micro backs 547 to 581 came on board January 06, 1938. On February 17, 1938, 582 to 592 came on board, with the first mules. March 22, 1938 brought plates 621 to 625.

Group two brought plates 626 to 625 on January 03, 1939. By June 07, 1939, plates to 658 were produced.

Group three had plates 659 to 653 in October of 1939, and by May 01, 1940, plates were above 664.

Highest possible 1934 mule backs:

Boston: 8/21/1939: 658
New York: 3/02/1939: 645
Philadelphia: 7/24/1939: 658
Cleveland:  9/01/1939: 658
Richmond: 7/26/1938: 625
Atlanta: 6/25/1945: 1000>
Chicago: 8/16/1939: 658
St. Louis: 12/20/1940: 698
Minneapolis: 8/22/1944: 1000>
Kansas City: 12/15/1944: 1000>
Dallas: 2/26/1946: 1000>
San Francisco: 10/07/1940: 698

ESF - do these 1934* mules all have MICRO backs with the exception of the first 585 macro back? I couldn’t follow from your initial post whether these mules had micro or macro backs (or some combination of the two).

Also, I now know what mules are, but I don’t have any experience identifying them “in the wild”. Are there are tried and true ways to do it (without using a tape measure)?  Any advice is appreciated.

[Early Star FanaticAdmin]

The 1934 mules are micro face and macro back. BP 585 and up.

1934A mules are macro face and micro back. BP 584 or less.

[Early Star FanaticAdmin]

I can see PMG giving this a 20Q.

In a Lyn Knight auction, in 2015, a similar note sold for $1,410. I feel that is very much over rated, though about seven are known. I put the value closer to $300 to $400. Perhaps I am ungrateful, and pessimistic.

[Early Star FanaticAdmin]

FOUR known, with just two trackable sales in the past decade. The other note was part of the Laguna Coast Auction, and surprisingly that note was passed on. That note came from eBay in January of 2015, and I was the under bidder. I won this note this past November, and this note is a new low serial.

[Early Star FanaticAdmin]

Alas, I am FINALLY on the board with another mule for the set.




D stars are very very tough. Even the most avid FRN collectors have this note missing from their collection.

About three are known.

I now need an E star, F star, and one of the CU L stars.

[Greenback]

Congrats! Great find

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