1787 Fugio copper. Newman 11-A, W-6780. Rarity-6. Pointed Rays, UNITED over STATES. MS-66 RB (PCGS).177.0 grains. Beautifully lustrous and dominated by original mint color, with light mellowing to violet brown in the obverse fields and devices and a blend of frosty steel across the reverse. The luster is a bit reflective near the raised obverse rim. The devices on both sides are boldly struck and nearly ideally centered, with the reverse aligned trivially toward 6:00. The central reverse is crisp, despite some swelling in the rings and peripheral die cracks at 2:00 and 7:30. While most surviving examples of this variety come from the Bank of New York hoard and are thus rather high grade, this one is, in short, finer than most. In fact, it is the single finest Fugio PCGS has ever seen.<p>PCGS has certified Fugio coppers on nearly 3,000 occasions. Of those, 25% (24.96) have been assigned Mint State grades (a reflection not just of Bank of New York survivors, but the profit motivation in resubmitting Mint State coins for higher grades). Less than 5% have received any kind of RB designation. And only this single coin, out of all varieties both common and rare, has ever been graded MS-66 RB. There are perhaps 20 or so Newman 11-As, vital additions to a collection by <em>Guide Book</em> variety since this is the only die marriage to use the UNITED over STATES reverse. But this piece may, today, be in even greater demand for its grade, the highest ever assigned in 32 years of grading by PCGS.PCGS Population: 1; none finer.From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s sale of the Laird U. Park Collection, May 1976, lot 115; Stack’s sale of June 1975, lot 191.
