Are Fugio cents rare?
With only about 400,000 minted, the coin itself is a rarity; however, it also has at least 55 varieties from the 24 obverse dies and 33 reverse dies, with some being very scarce.
What is a Fugio cent and what was it made of?
The Fugio cent, also known as the Franklin cent, is the first official circulation coin of the United States. Consisting of 0.36 oz (10 g) of copper, it was designed by Benjamin Franklin and minted only in 1787.
Was Mind your business on money?
“Mind your business”, a motto imprinted on the Fugio cent of 1787 (the first general circulation coin of U.S. currency)
Did the first penny say mind your own business?
On April 21, 1787, the Continental Congress of the United States authorized a design for the nation’s first coin, the Fugio Cent. The coin was designed by Benjamin Franklin and had the inscription “Mind Your Business.” …
How much is a continental currency 1776 coin worth?
The anonymous buyer picked up a rare 1776 Continental dollar in June 2018 for just 56 cents but the coin has now been valued in the range of $97,500, according to the Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS).
How many Fugio cents are left?
From that time, they were slowly distributed to officials and favored customers. In 1948, the American Numismatic Society examined the remaining 1,641 Fugio’s. Several examples were donated to the American Numismatic Society and others were sold to collectors. Currently the bank has 819 pieces.
What does Fugio mean?
I fly
The Latin word fugio, meaning, “I fly,” is inscribed along the edge between the sun and the ground, making a rebus with the sundial (“time flies”). The motto in the center, “we are one,” was later replaced on US coinage with the now-familiar Latin phrase, E Pluribus Unum, though it has the same essential meaning.
What motto did Benjamin Franklin put on the first US penny?
Mind Your Business
Benjamin Franklin reportedly designed the first American penny in 1787. Known as the Fugio cent, it bears the image of a sun and sundial above the message “Mind Your Business.” A chain with 13 links, each representing one of the original colonies, encircles the motto “We Are One” on the reverse.
Why were Continental dollars so worthless?
Continentals refers to paper currency issued by the Continental Congress in 1775 to help fund the American Revolutionary War. Continentals quickly lost value, partly because they were not backed by a physical asset like gold or silver, but also due to the fact that too many bills were printed.
What is the value of a 1787 Fugio cent?
1787 Colonial CoinageNGC MS-64 Brown 1787 Fugio Cent NGC MS-64 Brown In Stock $4,495.00 States United. 4 Cinquefoils. Pointed Rays. A pleasing example of the first coin issued by the authority of the United States. Well struck with lustrous even chocolate surfaces and strong eye appeal.
What was the value of the Fugio copper coin?
This is the popular early federal coinage designed by Benjamin Franklin and so named for the word FUGIO (‘I fly’). The copper coin was to circulate with the value of one cent, but no denomination is stated on the coin. It is curious that modern American politics has changed dramatically since 1787.
How much is a legal reproduction of a Fugio cent worth?
(C) is a modern legal reproduction of a fugio cent which is worth about $10. What makes (C) legal is the word COPY stamped into the design (on the back, not shown). The (D) coin is a fake without the word COPY inscribed.
Where can I find a Fugio dollar coin?
Further, the coin has been re-struck and reproduced several times, with plenty of un-marked fakes around. You can view a thorough treatment of fugio cents at the Department of Special Collections, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, including a description of restrikes.
