1787 Fugio 1C Newman 15-Y, 8-Pointed Stars, BN MS(PCGS#878505)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1400

Grade

AU53BN

Price

4,800

Lot Description

162.2 grains. An impressively high grade and impressively well struck example of this classic <em>Guide Book</em> variety. While the upper 8-pointed star is almost always well defined on this variety, the lower one on the central reverse label almost never is. On this example, it's as sharp as we've ever seen, as is the unique and distinctive cross-hatched shading on the letters of WE ARE ONE. The surfaces are frosty golden brown and olive on both sides, with some luster still apparent. A few darker toning spots are seen, in the sunrays, on the sundial, and below O of FUGIO, but they don't measurably diminish the very positive visual appeal. A flaw on the obverse edge at 6 o'clock is noted, along with a natural pit at central reverse below W of WE. The obverse has its usual crack to the lower right of the sundial, and the reverse shows a single clashmark and some light cracks around the rings nearest 6 o'clock.<p>Savvy collectors pursue the scarce examples with two well struck reverse stars, so it's no wonder why a collector of Mr. August's stature would own one like this. In the Retz census, where this coin appeared as 12th finest, it was listed as "XF-45, lower star on reverse label well struck," an acknowledgement of how this coin is a cut above others of similar grade. We've only sold two AU-53 (PCGS) examples and a single PCGS AU-55, though that coin happened to have a notable planchet flaw. We haven't sold an example graded higher than EF since 2019.