1787 Fugio Copper. Pointed Rays. Newman 10-G, W-6700. Rarity-5. UNITED STATES, 1/Horizontal 1. EF Details--Scratch (PCGS).147.5 grains. A high grade example of this major variety, combining the lone 1/Horizontal 1 obverse with a UNITED STATES reverse to create a full Rarity-5 die marriage that appears on every Guide Book collectors want list. The surfaces are smooth and attractive light brown, offering lovely eye appeal despite some localized pitting in the upper right reverse. Some harmless verdigris is noted under a class. A dull old scrape to the upper left of the sundial has resulted in the PCGS qualifier, but both sides are notably free of other marks. In terms of sharpness, this ranks with the best Newman 10-Gs around. Retzs was this sharp but not as smooth or appealing; Craiges was also this sharp but a little granular. The Ford coins were a cleaned Fine and a very high grade piece that unfortunately showed very little central obverse detail. There is but one Unc known; Retz listed an AU, a couple of EFs, and three VFs to follow it on his census. This attractive piece will upgrade the vast majority of advanced Fugio collections.From our sale of the Robert Ayers Collection, August 2013 ANA Auction, lot 1352. Mr. Ayers acquired the coin from Peter Boisvert, June 1989. Collector tag with attribution and provenance notes included.
