1787 Fugio Cent. Pointed Rays. Newman 9-Q, W-6760. Rarity-5-. STATES UNITED, 4 Cinquefoils. AU-50 (PCGS).
149.7 grains. As with the Robert Ayers example of the Newman 9-Q, this coin was graded VF-35 in its decades old auction appearance and is now more accurately graded AU-50 by PCGS in a more correct reading of the degree of wear, remaining luster, and overall eye appeal. The strike is full and a bit off-center to the right of both sides, bringing into full view the elongated denticles at left obverse and reverse. A peppering of planchet flakes, the result of slag that came to the surface as the planchet stock was rolled thin for cutting, is most notable at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock on both sides, without affecting the wealth of detail in the designs. The surfaces are dark chestnut in the fields, with steely and golden tones on the high points of the designs. This coin ranked as tied for fifth place in the Retz condition census, and this is probably still a pretty good approximation of its current ranking, when taking into consideration updated grades on the top specimens. Though the Newman 9-Q has fallen in rarity over the years as more specimens were documented, there has been no proliferation of top-notch specimens like this, and we expect intense bidding for this condition census coin as it crosses the auction block for the first time in over three decades.
PCGS# 878082.
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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Merena's) Spring Quartette Sale, March 1992, lot 1600; Anthony Terranova; Donald Scarinci Collection, November 2010.

Estimate: $6500