1787 Fugio Cent. Club Rays. Newman 23-ZZ, W-6650. Rarity-8+. Concave Ends, FUCIO, UNITED STATES. VF Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS).

159.5 grains. One of the most significant Fugio cent rarities that we have ever offered, this is the only example known for the legendary Newman 23-ZZ die pairing. It is a visually appealing coin for the grade, both sides with pleasing circulated cameo contrast that plays deep steely-copper fields off against lighter golden-brown design elements. The surfaces are universally rough and granular to explain the PCGS qualifier, but apart from a couple of minor edge bruises on the obverse and a shallow flan fissure at 9 o'clock on the reverse, there are no individually mentionable blemishes. Portions of the lower obverse periphery are indistinct, but plenty of bold detail retains elsewhere, most features actually quite sharp at the VF grade level. Plated in both Newman's United States Fugio Copper Coinage of 1787 (2008) and the Rock-Retz edition of Fugio Copper Notes (2016), this is the discovery coin for the variety, credited to Ted L. Craige in 1963. The coin passed into the collection of the present consignor in 1967, where it has remained until making its first ever auction appearance in this sale. Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, the sky's the limit when it comes to bidding for this landmark Fugio cent rarity.

PCGS# 878901.

From the Star of Texas Collection. Earlier ex Ted L. Craige, February 4, 1967. Collector envelope with attribution and provenance notes included.

Estimate: $ 35000