Twinkle Eye Mimic, 1987

Mimic, Mint on Card
North America, 1987
Image donated by ebay seller.

Mimic, Myths and Mad Pricing

There's no avoiding the fact that Mimic has a certain status in the collecting community. Even as far back as the late 1990s, she was already 'sought after' - perhaps because of her appearance in the Golden Horseshoes episodes (see below for more detail). Whatever the reason, Mimic has always been more expensive than her set fellows.

Mimic Myth #1 - Mimic was shortpacked
One of the reasons blamed for her price rise is the idea that she was 'shortpacked' - that fewer Mimics were sent to stores than other characters in the set. There is literally no evidence for this. In fact, the booklet information I have for Hasbro - albeit for the UK distribution - suggests that ponies were sold in a case with equal numbers of each character included. Anecdotal evidence from collectors who bought ponies new in stores also supports this. This is a very old rumour but has no factual basis. Mimic was almost certainly sold in the same quantities as her set companions.

Mimic Myth #2 - Mimic was less popular than her set-mates
I don't live in America, so it is difficult for me to gauge how popular/unpopular ponies were in a set not sold here. But the size of the market in North America for ponies in general mean that even if Mimic was less popular, there are likely to be more Mimics out there than people looking for her. Mimic is often available for sale - one of the reasons most cited for why people don't own her is cost, not rarity. Moreover, if Mimic was massively unpopular, we would see far more Mint on Card versions of her than her setmates. This is not the case. Several Mint on Card Mimics do exist, but not in the kind of quantities to suggest she shelf-sat in the eighties. This is also a myth we can dismiss.

Mimic Myth #3 - Only a limited number of Mimics were made.
Technically, a limited number were made of every pony. But it's safe to assume that the same number of Mimics were produced as other characters in her set. As many Mimics were made as Quackers and Bright Eyes, as they had the same regional distribution. If you want to call that limited...well. It's up to you really.

Mimic Myth #4 - Mimic is so rare that a MOC version of her would be a one off mythical entity.
This one sounds ridiculous - and it is - because we know there are several surviving MOC Mimics. But this idea gained traction in the early 2000s. While it was a tongue-in-cheek comment on the rarity/cost of Mimic overall, the impact it had was emphatic. When the first Mint on Card Mimic showed up on ebay, her price soared to $1000, as she was thought to be a one of a kind Mint on Card pony survivor. She sold for over $1000, which in the mid 2000s was a LOT of money for any pony, much less one produced for store release in North America. This auction set the benchmark for MOC Mimic sales since. The price has never come down.

Mimic's value is something that has been many years in the making, and will probably not ever be resolved. Whether the rumours contributed to this price rise or whether it really did come from her television appearance is unclear. But she remains one of the most divisive and notorious ponies in the collecting community.

If you are new to collecting, and want to add Mimic to your collection, I strongly advise shopping around and asking advice before taking the plunge. Where you live in the world may impact how easy it is for you to find a Mimic at a reasonable price, but it is always a good idea to check your details first - and don't get sucked in by the mythology. 

What colour is Mimic?

If that all wasn't enough, there are also many disagreements on Mimic's base colour. This is because in photos she can sometimes come over as more yellow, or even, in some lighting, appear white. I have had three loose Mimics come through my hands over the years I have been collecting, however, and all of them have been the same shade of yellow-green. She always reminds me of lemon-lime sherbet sweets for some reason.

Her pink streak can also fade to white - this is not a variation.

Mimic's Character

Mimic, Maeve and Spike in the Golden Horseshoes