Follwing query fails on one database, but the same works on other Database

Question

Hi,
The following SQL fails on one database with ORA-01722 but the same works on other database.
SQL> SELECT i.version, d.name, i.instance_name, i.host_name
FROM v$instance i, v$database d, v$parameter p 2
3 WHERE p.name = 'instance_number'
4 AND DECODE(p.value, 0, 1, p.value) = i.instance_number;
AND DECODE(p.value, 0, 1, p.value) = i.instance_number
ERROR at line 4:
ORA-01722: invalid number
both databases are at same version (10.2.0.1) both are on same machine.
Initailly I suspected NLS settings, I am surprised to see NLS settings are also same on both the databases.
Any thoughts why is it happening

Answer 1

Thanks for the reply
Yes, i know that i am comparing varchar against number.
bu there is no way that the database where the query is working has correct types on both sides as the tables are standard oracle dictionary tables.
Yes, i tried this earlier, it works
AND DECODE(p.value, '0', '1', p.value) = to_char(i.instance_number)
it is very weired to see that error, i feel it something else that causing the trouble.