Any thoughts regarding these Fugio cent dies?
RogerB
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Not entirely certain of the correct identification of "John Scudder, MD." The early 1837 date does not quite match historical reports.
[New] York
January 13, 1837
R.M. Patterson, MD
Dear Sir:
I avail myself of the opportunity of a friend going to Philadelphia to inform you that I have in my possession the Original steel Dies of the first cent that was coined, the Date 1787. On one side of the cent you will recollect are thirteen rings forming one Ring in the centre [sic] of which are the words “We are one” “United States;” on the other side is a sun dial, with the words “Fugio 1787” and “Mind Your Business.”
Thinking you would like the possession of them by purchase, I have at the suggestion of Mr. R. Peale written you on the subject. Please reply to this as early as possible as I leave new York in a few days.
Yours, etc.
J[ohn] Scudder [Sr.]M.D.
New York
Comments
Interesting. Was this in the Mint files? One of my first questions would be how he came in possession of the dies....Not inferring anything nefarious, just curious as to the story behind them. So much gets lost due to lack of documentation... if it was ever documented to begin with. Cheers, RickO
I can imagine a pair of original Fugio dies surviving and winding up in private hands - they weren't struck by the government, after all.
Take into account the mess that ensued when Jarvis and his partners absconded after one of them used most of the copper supplied by the Federal government to coin Connecticut coppers, and it's imaginable that a genuine pair of dies might turn up a few decades later.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
The letter is in NARA Philadelphia, RG 104 Entry-1, General Correspondence. It was photographed under a grant from Central States. I did the quick transcription.
Lots of Fugio dies were used so it is very likely that some were picked up as curiosities. Scudder was a minor collector of coins, but best known for his religious "missions to the heathen." He spent most of his life destroying native cultures, beliefs and languages. (Just an opinion....)
I don't recall seeing any Fugio dies at the SI back when they let us dig through the collection, but they could have ended up there. Perhaps Jeff Garrett would know whether any are hiding in a drawer in the vault.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
Many people confuse "dies" with "hubs." Didn't Newman illustrate a Fugio hub or punch? I am away from my library.
I don't recall and my copies of Newman's book are in storage. The digitized notes are on NNP, but they are not transcribed so finding anything is difficult.
There were hubs for the AMERICAN CONGRESS pieces, I think. This would explain the 19th Century restrikes.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n10a13.html
Anything earlier than 1862?
Evidently, the dies were of little special importance back then.