1787 Fugio Cent - Club Rays, Cinquefoil Ends States United

Strike Type

Coin Details

Year

1787

Denomination

Colonials

Strike Type

Regular Strike

Series

Proposed National Issues (1776-1787)

Designer

Benjamin Franklin (design concept); James Jarvis (die execution)

Composition

Copper

Weight

10.2g

Diameter

28mm

Edge

Plain

Description

Three diagnostic features define this 1787 Fugio cent within the Newman catalog: Club Rays with cinquefoil (five-petaled flower) ornaments at the ray ends on the obverse, and the reversed "States United" legend on the reverse. Club Rays — thick, blunt sundial rays rather than fine Pointed Rays — represent one of two major obverse design families. The cinquefoil ornaments at the ray ends add decorative floral elements distinguishing this from Club Rays dies with rounded or other termination styles. The "States United" legend, reversed from "United States," completes the three-part identification narrowing attribution to a defined subset of Club Rays die combinations. The Fugio cent was authorized by Congress on April 21, 1787, produced under James Jarvis's contract at New Haven in copper. Designs — sundial with FUGIO and MIND YOUR BUSINESS on the obverse, thirteen chain links with WE ARE ONE on the reverse — are attributed to Benjamin Franklin. This was the first coin authorized by Congress. The Club Rays / cinquefoil ends / States United combination appears on a limited number of die marriages. Collectors use ray style, ornament type, and legend order as the primary classification hierarchy. Scarce.