1787 Fugio Cent. Pointed Rays. Newman 17-WW, W-6945. Rarity-6. STATES UNITED, 4 Cinquefoils. VF-35 (PCGS).
156.9 grains. Golden brown surfaces are choice for the variety, with just some as-made planchet streaks situated chiefly around the sun rays and the right side of the reverse. For a variety that usually comes very low grade or impaired in one way or another, it is an absolute delight to hold this beautiful coin in hand, as it would be superior even for the most common of Fugio cent varieties in this grade. Seemingly not listed in the Retz census, it is very possible that this was a previously undocumented cherrypick by eagle-eyed variety hunter Chris Young, from whom Syd bought it. The finest listed in the Retz census is the Norweb EF-40, though in the Norweb description this coin is called "possibly second finest known." The Norweb coin is followed by two VF-35s and a VF-30, so Syd's coin is seemingly tied for second finest known honors. We recall cataloging the 1981 Kessler sale scratched Fine coin when it reappeared as a highlight of the Richard Hillman Collection sold in the November 2003 Coin Galleries sale (where it was still considered Rarity-7). The 2008 Newman update inexplicably called this a Rarity-5, but Rarity-6 is the right rating. This variety was missing from many old-time collections like Boyd-Ford, Norweb, Newman and Hancock, given that it was a later discovery by Richard Picker. Our online archives for the last 20 or so years contain six appearances of only four different coins, none of which hold a candle to this coin.
PCGS# 878109.
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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Christopher B. Young, March 2009.

Estimate: $12000