Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-11-17
The FugiO Cents.
Specimens OF the Earliest United states
Coinage, some Of which were Made in
Vermont,

IL nubulu w a uldlltI Vi Interest 10 lllt
people of Vermont that portion of the
earliest coinage issued by the authority of
the government of this country was coined
in their own state. This is true of the
"Fugio' cents, some Of which were coined
in Rupert, during the year 1857; and from
the fact that they were the first legally
authorized coins issued by the government,
they possess more than ordinary interest,
and still remain as "creditable relics of the
confederation These coins have been
known by various names, as the Prank
lii" "Sun-dial,' "Rng,n "Rittenhouse,n
and mind your business cent, as well as
by their proper name, given at the head of
this article They were first coined in the
city Of New York, afterwards in New
Haven, Conn, and Rupert, VT, in 1857
They were mentioned somewhat quantity
in one OF the few newspapers Of that re-
mote period as follows; "The coinage of
Federal cent coppers, we are told is coming
on, and we may expect soon to see them
in circulation among us. This will free US
from the imposition TO which we are now
exposed, from the foods Of light, half
coined British halfpence introduced among
rs; and from the excellent montOrial eau
ton, Mind your business, impressed on
each of these, they may prove an antidote
to insurgency, and will doubtless be held in
high estimation
The official records relating 10 them are
very meagre, and are all contained in Ger
tain entries to be found in the journal of
Congress as for example. under the date
of July 8, 17S7, it is recorded: Resolved,
that the Board of Treasury direct the con
tractor for the copper coinage 10 stamp on
one side OF each piece, the following de-
y y-iy t.tYo 1. ID
er. small circle i'm the middle with the
words, United States round il. and in
the centre, the words, we arr one. On
the other side of the same piece, the fol-
lowing device, viz: A dial with the hours
expressed on the face OF it, A meridian
sun above on one side OF which is to be-
the word 'Fugio. and on the other, the
year, in figures, l7S1 Below the dial. the
words. Mind your business. The de-
scription of this early coin in numismatic
terms is as follows:
OBvERsE. Dcricl Thirteen rings
linked regularly, forming an endless chain.
Lsgsud. 80 United States O. on a small
circular label around the centre Centre.
1--WE are one" REVERSE. Dcric,. \
sun dial, the sun shining upon il from
above LcQead. Fugio 80. l7s7 -
In Erergu,. Mind your business Bor-
der, miled Edge, plain. Sic. IL to Is.
WciqLt. 12O to lis grains.
Dickson. in writing upon this subject.
says These devices, to our mind. were
very appropriate, and as a work OF taste
and interest it throws into the shade the
very uninterestiuC specimens OF the same
denomination which succeeded it The
only claim il has to the appellajive of the
Franklin cent or penny, lies in the fact
that the legend was one Of those senten-
tious sentences imputed 10 Franklin, and
for which he was SO justly distinguished "
According TO Snowden. the words "Mnd
your business were added without the
authority OF Congress, and there are those
who declare that it was done AT the sug-
Cestiou Of Poor Richard" himself There
are in circulation impression, from no les,
than - diverse. and - reverse dies. which
differ IN most instances very slightly. The
most prominent point OF difference in the
diverse Is to be found ia the order of the
words United States, which are often
trauSpOsed 10 Estates United In one
die. mentioned by Crosby, United" is
above, and "Statcs' below. OF this. only
three impressions are known, ANA cons,--
quenly u Is of extreme rarity The yaria-
ton, I'm the reverse consist chiefly in diff
terent puuctuatons Of the legend.
Beside the regularly authorized issue OF
these coins. there are other pieces. suupo>-
ed TO be patterns of the same general char
actercS, and among them certain speci-
mems In which each ring bears the name
of "a state, and these are extremely rare.
IL l. said. that there are in existence two
mint proofs of the Fugio IN gold, valued
al Sl25 each. and il is known 10 numis-
matists that there arr a number of i'm
pressions IN silver, and also i'm ALLOW of
copper and zinc, which We're struck only a
few years ago from the original dies There
are also a few pieces IN existence. which
differ widely from those authorized by the
resolution of Congress given al the begin
ming OF this article. One of these has
stars within the rays. and Others have the
name, OF the states within the rings. AS
previously mentioned In these latter. the
words I'VE are one are omitted. and the
words American Congress take the place
of Il nited States Some of them have
an eye in the centre, and all of them rays
between the motto and the rings The
diverse is without letters. and there is also
one specimen In brass. The price, paid
by collectors for the Fugios I'm copper vary.
according TO the condition and appearance
of the coin, from - cents 10 $50. Fine
specimens can now be purchased for -
cents.
In the preparation of this article. the
writer has consulted the following author
titles The valuable and standard work en-
Titled, The early coins of America"
which was published in the year lS75 by
subscription. the author being Sylvester
:. Crosby OF Massachusetts; Dickesou's
American numlsmatical manual of United
States coins Snowden's Ancient and
modern coins" Dyes coin encyclopa-
dia,' and the illustrated history of the
/ United States Mint first and second adi-
tons
@NuTE "EIerQue" This word Is derived from
the Greek through the French and signifies liter
ally "Out of the work. Il is used TO drscrit-
the small space beneath the base line OF the sub
7 lect engraved on coin or medal and iu which
the date, and sometimes the engrayer's initials
are placed, or some brief inscription, as IN the
. case of the Fugios
EX-President VIM. II. Beers of the New
York Life Insurance company died al New
York yesterday. Mr.. Beers was forced TO
resign his position through the efforts of
the New York Times, which charged him
4 as eXtTayagant in his management of the