"Mules" are not Parthian pack animals, but rather coins struck with mismatched sides; that is, the obverse is from one issue and the reverse from another. It is believed that these coins were the result of a rush at the mint to change coinage over from one type to another causing the mistake. Or perhaps as an expedient, the die from an earlier issue was substituted for the proper one. Mules are especially useful to numismatists as they can indicate the possible sequence of the coinage.

But who minted the coin? Either the obverse or reverse can be from the most recent ruler. When we know with certainty the order of rulers, the later ruler is assumed to have issued the coin. But it is almost impossible to decide who issued coins when we have contemporaneous rulers or the history and sequence of the kings is murky. To provide consistency on this web site, all "mule" coins are placed according to the Sellwood type of the obverse portrait.

Also shown are examples of "mules" of the same king -- a coin struck with the obverse of one type, and a reverse of another.

This page last updated 26 Feb 2021