This coin has my favorite motto on it

IrishMike

ebayfugiocent I have been following this auction, I really like these coins and this one looks like a nice one. I love the motto too. Anyone else appreciate these or know of other coins or medals with interesting mottos?

By the way what do these in MS usually sell for?

Russ

<< <i>Anyone else appreciate these or know of other coins or medals with interesting mottos? >>



I like the Hard Times tokens that say "Millions for defence, not one cent for tribute".



<< <i>By the way what do these in MS usually sell for? >>



I recently learned (at this forum, or course) that the New Haven restrike in MS is about the $600 to $650 range.

Russ, NCNE

Pushkin

I love Fugio cents. I think they are the single most interesting US coin ever minted. Three great "mottos" FUGIO, MIND YOUR BUSINESS, and WE ARE ONE. I have one in terrible condition and a Royal Oak Mint replica that helps me appreciate the real one. Hope to find the ideal Fugio (for me) for under $800. Been looking a long time, and will continue to look and wait until that perfect one (for me) comes along.

FUGIOS are great, fantastic coins!!!

CalGold

I always liked "Liberty Parent of Science and Industry" from the Birch Cent. Very prescient and a motto that I would like to see on our modern coins.

IrishMike

CalGold do you have an image of one you could share with us?

Outhaul

Not only that, it's being offered by a terrific seller, Sulpaco (Sullivan Paper Company). I've done biz with them many times and have always been satisfied.

Cheers,

Bob

IrishMike

Outhaul, he's got an 1823 capped bust halve that is downright gorgeous listed also.

CalGold

Mike,

Here is a picture of the 1792 Birch Cent

IrishMike

I can't get the picture to show.

Pushkin

Speaking of the Birch Cent, what about the 1792 Disme With the same motto, but the really neat Flowing Hair Liberty facing left and the "backward facing flying eagle?" on the reverse. Looks pretty in the pictures - RED BOOK.

stujoe

Fugios are very cool. I don't own one though. The story behind their maker and their making is also very interesting. Do a search about it on the web. The guy who got the contract was a littel shady from what I have read.

As far as motto, I like the one on my lone CWT: Obv: The Flag Of Our Union Rev: If anybody attempts to tear it down, shoot him on the spot.

Russ

<< <i>The story behind their maker and their making is also very interesting. >>



Yeah, he was a crook who ended up fleeing the country. He also got the contract to produce them by providing a hefty bribe to the treasury secretary.

Russ, NCNE

CalGold

Mike,

The picture link works for me. Is anyone else having a problem? It is from Coinfacts.com.

CG

stujoe

<< <i>

<< <i>The story behind their maker and their making is also very interesting. >>

Yeah, he was a crook who ended up fleeing the country. He also got the contract to produce them by providing a hefty bribe to the treasury secretary. Russ, NCNE >>



Yep, and I think he 'procurred' the copper from the gov't in an interesting manner too! I can't remember the exact numbers but he never even produced enough coins to account for all of the copper he 'acquired' from the gov't.

Russ

The amount was 30 tons, if I remember correctly. But, I don't think he took delivery on all of it because he never paid for it. He was supposed to produce millions of the coins (can't remember exact figure), but only produced less than 400,000. They were also found to be inferior and underweight.

The stories surrounding early coinage in this country are flat-out fascinating.

Russ, NCNE

Conder101

Jarvis did get the thirty tons of copper from the government on credit. It was to be paid for out of the fugios he was to strike for the govenment with the balance being his profit. After striking of the fugios began, Jarvis went to England to try and acquire more copper to fulfill the government contract (The thirty tons was supposed to make up only part of the total coinage ordered.) Unfortunately for Jarvis, none of the copper producers would supply him on credit. When he returned he found that in his absence his partners had produced 400,000 fugios to satisfy the first delivery then diverted the government copper into the production of lightweight Connecticut halfpence which provided more profit. Once the copper had beenused up the partners then fled. Jarvis was left holding the bag and had to flee as well.

So the Govement was out their thirty tons of copper and all they had to show for it was $4,000 in fugios. Then the question was how to get them into circulation. They were purchased from the government by a gentleman whose name I forget at the moment, on credit. Unfortunately for him, shortly afterwards there was a glut of copper coins in commerce and they suddenly took a turn downwards with all copper coinage losing 50% or more of its value practically overnight. The gentleman being unable to meet his payment obligations for the fugios also defaulted. He did spend some time in debtors prison though. So now the government was out the fugios as well as the original copper. They got stiffed for the coins TWICE.

stujoe

Well told Condor! I agree with Russ also...our early coinage history has some fascinating tales.

kranky

When I saw this thread title, I was sure it was about Fugios!

I was attracted to Fugios because of the mottos, the history, the story about Ben Franklin doing the design, and just like Pushkin is doing, I looked a long time for one. After about a year and a half I found one on ebay - a nice VF/XF, common variety, with a bit of porosity but perfectly centered with very bold legends. The porosity would be a turnoff for serious copper collectors, but it made it possible for me to get one in my price range. I saw dozens of higher graded ones that had a weak strike on one side or had mushy legends, and those weren't as attractive in my opinion. It's my favorite coin.

The New Haven restrikes don't do anything for me because of the lack of connection to the origin of the US. But in MS, they are probably half (or less) of the cost of an original.