1840 (ca. 1860s) Sages Odds and Ends -- No. 2, Old Sugar House, Liberty Street, N.Y. First Obverse Die / Second Obverse Die Mule. Bowers-2b. Die State I. Copper. Plain Edge. 31 mm. Mint State.Bold olive-copper patina is noted on the First Obverse Die side, while the other side has slightly lighter autumn-brown toning. The texture is satiny with a pleasing original appearance. According to Q. David Bowers in his reference on this series (American Numismatics Before the Civil War: 1760-1860: Emphasizing the story of Augustus B. Sage, 1998), the earliest known market appearance of this mule was in W. Elliott Woodwards October 1864 sale of the J. Osborn Emery Collection. The author also states: The purpose of this muling, not advertised by Sage, is unknown as is its time of striking. Perhaps it was made up at a later date by George H. Lovett.
