Anyone familiar with Fugio Cents?

luv2collect

I was offered this coin at a decent price. I wish I could blow up the scan more but I can't. Does this coin look like it has a good strike on the reverse? Opinions welcome

Russ

You realize it's a restrike, not an original, right?

Note: You have now witnessed essentially everything I know about Fugios.

Russ, NCNE

luv2collect

Thanks Russ. No I didn't realize it was a restrike.... thanks for pointing it out to me. I would assume that the restrikes are worth less than the originals. How can I find out what this might be worth?

Russ

Last New Haven that sold on Teletrade was an MS63 BN, and it went for $600. An original Fugio in that condition would be lots and lots of money.

Russ, NCNE

DanC

What would be the diagnostic you would use if it were not a re-strike?

dorkkarl

from the tiny pic, it appears average for the grade, if not a bit overgraded. again - from a tiny digipic

for a colonial type set, i would not settle for a n.h., i'd want the real thing.

K S

relayer

Did somebody say Fugio?

I just upgraded my Fugio to a non-holed version and I listed my old one here. It's a nice strike and would grade VF-20 without the hole.

1787 Fugio (holed)

The New Haven restrikes were made from copy dies circa 1860. So if you want an original Fugio (and who wouldn't) this is an opportunity to own one at a resonable price.

kranky

Note on the slab label where it says "New Haven Res" - "New Haven Restrikes" are what they are called.

The easiest way to detect the restrike is the rings on the reverse are noticably thinner, compared to the original. Check your Redbook for photos of each to compare the difference.

BillJones

To me restrikes like this are like kissing your sister. There's just nothing to get excited about. I'd sooner own a lower grade example of the real thing. Fugios are not that rare (in fact not rare at all in Mint State because of a couple of hoard varieties). Yet they are currently expensive.

And yes the thin rings on the reverse are the give away for the New Haven Restrikes.

abuell

My guess is that these were most like manufactured by the Scoville Button Works, probably through an order placed by Agustus B. Sage, sometime in the 1860's. They are readily available in high grade in several different copper and brass alloys, additionally about 30-40 are known in silver. Breen claimed to have known of 3 in gold, but the only one that has been photogrphed and that I have been able to substantiate is the holed Norweb specimen (lot: 3565) that is in my personal Fugio collection.