1787 Fugio Cent. Pointed Rays. Newman 8-B, W-6740. Rarity-2. UNITED STATES, 4 Cinquefoils. MS-66 RB (NGC).

Full cartwheel luster on beautiful surfaces highlighted by significant remaining mint color, only lightly faded to pleasing brown and deep blue in areas. A simply beautiful example with an especially bold strike. Some light inherent roughness is noted at the base of the obverse, but beyond that area the planchet is complete and intact, with no post-striking flaws noted under magnification beyond the most minor reverse specks of toning. A superlative example befitting a particularly picky collector. By Fugio copper standards Newman 8-B is a more available die marriage in Mint State. Most such pieces trace their pedigrees to the Bank of New York Hoard, in which some 246 examples of Newman 8-B resided as late as 1948. A common provenance is where the similarity between this NGC-certified Gem and most other Mint State examples of the die pair comes to an abrupt end. As one of the four highest graded examples of the UNITED STATES, 4 Cinquefoils Guide Book variety known to the major third party certification services, this Condition Census Gem belongs in the finest cabinet.

PCGS# 890. NGC ID: 2B8F.

From our (American Numismatic Rarities') Classics Sale of September 2003, lot 110.