1787 Fugio Cent? - SOLVED

[woj]

I was going through my old finds today and I came across my first blank copper that I found probably ten years ago. I never attempted to ID it because it's completely fried. However I thought I might take a pencil rubbing of it to see if I could get any details.

Now I think it's a 1787 Fugio Cent.

It's made of copper
28mm or 1 1/8" in diameter (My old Red Book doesn't give a dimension, but internet searches show it to be 28.5mm)
The only details that show are from one side of the coin, the other shows nothing. I did some contrast adjustment to bring out what details I think I am seeing. It actually looks better on paper.

Tell me what you think, if I am seeing sh*t, if I am crazy, or maybe it's something else. DON help me out here, you ID'd my blank French Sol, this is your next challenge!

Here is a real one, although several varieties exist.

Thanks for the help.
-woj

 

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[Don in SJ]

Re: 1787 Fugio Cent?

Looks like a good possiblity to me. Shame on the condition but an ID is an ID.

Don

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Re: 1787 Fugio Cent?

Based on the rubbing it sure looks like a match. If it were me I'd take it as such. That's been my "ultimate desired find coin" since I've been at this. Good find.

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: 1787 Fugio Cent?

If These two guys say it is... then BAM! - I'll agree...

That is an awesome find! Too bad you can't get an exact attribution - but knowing what it is should be real exciting! Congratulations...

 

[woj]

Re: 1787 Fugio Cent?

OK, here are two more...of the actual coin.

I told you it was shot to hell....

First is the rubbing next to the coin....the 7 stands out the most, and is the same "7" as seen on an actual Fugio cent. There are also ridges that show on some parts of the coin as also on an actual Fugio.

This is the reverse.....depending on how you look at it (definitely not in this photo), there may be rings....I know I'm reaching hard on that one!

 

[woj]

Re: 1787 Fugio Cent?

One more pic of a real one.

Looks like the U in Fugio is also showing on my first rubbing, directly opossite of the 7. The rubbing is slightly rotated clockwise.

I also did an overlay of the picture of the obverse and a real one, but it doesn't show anything.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Re: 1787 Fugio Cent?

Hmm with 2 or maybe 3 points of reference.. that looks like it might be one! I have spent many an hour with a stack of blanks and a copy of Breens trying to match them up and I have attributed Colonials with less.. so that really has enough of an over all "look" that matches up!! I'd do the "99% sure it is a..." on the flip and color that puppy done!!

Nice find!
MonkeyBoy

 

[woj]

Re: 1787 Fugio Cent?

Ok, it has been settled...with the help of Watercolor for doing a little grayscale and transparency image, I made an animated gif file to show the Fug's transformation. Compare the rubbing and animation. I say Fugio all the way.

It's a "match" (since there are several versions of Fugio's out there)

Check it.

-woj

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

That is damned impressive WOJ. I was aggreable before and am more so now.

Good work on the morphing and great find!

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Man.. outstanding work!! No doubt that is what it is.. you have a bunch of points that match up!!!

MonkeyBoy

 

[woj]

I almost wonder if perhaps a peroxide soaking would pull just enough detail out of the coin to make it easily identifiable without the cool image morph.

I have to leave it as it is.....any attempt at cleaning this thing would probably remove what little detail there is.

Glad I could give you something to stare at....although Jeff's pine tree shilling and Don's KG, Reale, and 1/2 Cent post kind of put my ratty old coin to shame.

 

[romeo-1]

Nicely done...I really like your animation!