1787 Fugio 1C United States, Newman 5-HH, BN MS(PCGS#878899)

Spring 2022 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1234

等级

VF30BN

价格

305,660

详细说明

Landmark Newman 5-HH Fugio Rarity CC#2 of Just Six Known 1787 Fugio Cent. Club Rays. Newman 5-HH, W-6645. Rarity-7+. Concave Ends, FUGIO, UNITED STATES. VF-30 (PCGS). Perhaps a once in a lifetime bidding opportunity for this landmark Newman variety in the Fugio cent series. This is a splendid example, nearly Extremely Fine in terms of detail, with otherwise bold definition to both sides that wanes appreciably only at the lower obverse and upper reverse borders. Centering is quite good, nonetheless, and all major design elements are at least partially discernible, with the rays and sundial the sharpest. Both sides are toned in warm medium brown patina over which some ebony surface scale has gathered, the resulting modestly rough texture perhaps identifying the VF-30 designation as a net grade on the part of the graders at PCGS. A minor edge disturbance at 1 o'clock on the reverse is also noted for accuracy, but we see no other blemishes that are worthy of concern. One of just five Fugio varieties that are not represented in the ANS holdings, the Newman 5-HH has only appeared at auction four times. The variety's discovery is credited to Richard Picker in 1965, which he announced in the March 1965 issue of The Colonial Newsletter. The first auction appearance came a decade later when the discovery coin, pedigreed to Dr. Thomas Hall, was offered in our (Stack's) March 1975 sale of the Dr. David L. Spence Collection, lot 739. It was plated in Alan Kessler's The Fugio Cents. A year later, in our (Stack's) April 1976 sale, the present example was sold as lot 136; it was plated in Phillip Mossman's Money of the American Colonies and Confederation, page 197, with a credit to the present consignor, who has owned it since acquiring it from our April 1976 sale. The next auction appearance was in our (Stack's) November 1994 offering of the John Hancock Fugios as lot 48. The Hancock piece, a bit lower grade than the others, also serves as the plate coin for the 2008 edition of Eric Newman's United States Fugio Copper Coinage of 1787. The final previous offering was as lot 2558 in our March 2015 sale of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation Collection. Jeff Rock's 2016 revision to Rob Retz's Fugio Copper Noteslists only five examples of Newman 5-HH, although a sixth has been confirmed since. The Retz census ranks the Kendall Foundation specimen as CC#1, followed by the present example and the Stack's 1975 coin in a contentious battle for CC#2. The two coins are graded EF-45 and EF-40 therein, respectively. With so few specimens known, of course, the opportunity to acquire any Newman 5-HH should not be taken lightly. This piece is within the upper half of the census, and is sure to see spirited bidding among advanced specialists in this popular and historically significant series. Provenance: From the Star of Texas Collection. Earlier ex our (Stack's) sale of April 1976, lot 136. Lot tag included. PCGS# 878899. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.