1787 Fugio 1C States United, 4 Cinq., RB MS(PCGS#884)

The January 2013 Americana Sale

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

11586

Grade

MS63

Price

19,975

Lot Description

1787 Fugio Copper. Pointed Rays. Newman 11-X, W-6790. Rarity-4. STATES UNITED, 4 Cinquefoils. MS-63 RB (PCGS). "Uncirculated. Bright original color. Struck slightly off center." This was all Henry Chapman had to say about this coin the last time it sold publicly, nearly 99 years ago. Were Henry to leave his Pine Street office in Philadelphia and make his way to New York City, as he so often did, he would recognize this coin today. It remains rich with "bright original color," as full original red as any Fugio your cataloger can recall, more red than anything in the Boyd-Ford collection, though Ford:285 came close. That piece brought $14,950. While called RB by PCGS, there is no brown on this coin, only even rich mint red that has barely mellowed in the obverse fields. The luster is inspiring. A single tiny spot is noted above E of UNITED on the reverse. The obverse die is in its typical clashed state. PCGS has never certified a Fugio copper (or any other American-made colonial or Confederation copper) as RD, but we can't imagine a specimen extant more deserving of that appellation than this one. This would be the ideal type coin for a high grade connoisseur quality type set of early American issues, particularly with its fine old provenance.