No Date Fugio Cent - American Congress, Brass New Haven Restrike

Coin Details

Description

Among the rarest pieces in the entire Fugio cent series, this brass New Haven restrike bears the early "American Congress" legend rather than the standard "United States" or "States United" inscriptions found on production Fugio cents of 1787. The American Congress dies are associated with the earliest phase of Fugio-related die production and may predate the Congressional authorization of April 21, 1787 that led to the contracted coinage struck by James Jarvis at the New Haven mint. New Haven restrikes were produced circa 1858-1860s when Horatio N. Rust, a Connecticut collector, obtained access to surviving Fugio dies and struck limited quantities in various metals for the numismatic market. Brass examples are extremely scarce, as most New Haven restrikes were produced in copper. Cataloged within the Newman reference system under the American Congress grouping, this piece documents both the earliest die designs associated with the Fugio coinage concept and the 19th-century restrike activity that preserved those designs for future study. The obverse carries the iconic sundial with FUGIO and MIND YOUR BUSINESS, while the reverse displays the chain of thirteen links encircling WE ARE ONE, features adapted from Benjamin Franklin's original design proposal.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. American Congress restrikes in brass are extremely scarce.

Cross References

Newman; American Congress, New Haven Restrike, brass