1787 Fugio Cent. Pointed Rays. Newman 1-B, W-6600. Rarity-4. Obverse Cross After Date, No Cinquefoils, UNITED STATES. EF-45 (PCGS). 141.4 grains. Light olive brown is juxtaposed against deeper ruddy brown chiefly in the fields and protected areas, creating a two-tone cameo-in-copper effect that is prized among Fugio collectors. Obverse fields show a touch of grainy texture, chiefly in the left field and at the extremities, weakening the top of the O of FUGIO and the extreme tops of the date digits. A small, well-placed planchet depression renders the I of FUGIO nearly invisible. Though Syd acquired more than one of this distinctive variety, this one was his best, coming from his purchase en bloc of the Donald Scarinci Collection that was replete with choice coins like this. This example is graded EF-40 and tied with five others for fourth place in the Robert Retz census; though there exist some higher third-party graded pieces that are and arent on the Retz census, some of which dont hold up to their assigned grades, this one is quite pleasant in its evenness and glossiness and would not require an upgrade if placed into a set of choice Fugio cents in the upper circulated grades. Though a Roper pedigree may seem common in sales from a collection as illustrious as Syds, it is a mark of quality and rarity in the colonial series, undoubtedly influencing this coins choice as the plate coin for the type in the <em>Guidebook of United States Coins</em> from 1985 through 2003. It also served as the plate coin in the 2008 update to the Newman reference. PCGS# 878904. <strong>To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click<a href="https://stacksbowers.com/sydney-f-martin-collection/"target=’_blank’> here.</a></strong> From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stacks) sale of the John L. Roper Collection, December 1983, lot 410; our (Bowers and Merenas) Spring Quartette Sale, March 1992, lot 1598; Donald Scarinci Collection, November 2010.
