Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- One (1) cent coin
- United States, 1787
- Obverse Image: Sundial below sun.
- Obverse Text: FUGIO / 1787 / MIND YOUR BUSINESS
- Reverse Image: 13 interlocking rings.
- Reverse Text: UNITED STATES / WE ARE ONE
- Description
- The Congress of the Confederation – predecessor of the modern United States Congress – resolved in 1787 to issue the first national coinage, copper cents now known as “Fugio Cents.” James Jarvis, a Connecticut coiner, was selected to make them, but he misdirected much of the metal to unauthorized projects. As a result, the cents were light-weight and rejected by the public. Benjamin Franklin inspired this obverse design, which is interpreted to mean “Time flies, so mind your business.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Dr. Charles Doolittle Walcott
- 1787
- ID Number
- NU.68.27.026
- accession number
- 276908
- catalog number
- 68.27.026
- Object Name
- coin
- Physical Description
- copper (overall metal)
- 0 (overall die axis)
- 0 (overall die axis measurement)
- struck (overall production method)
- Measurements
- overall: 28.4 mm; x 1 1/8 in
- place made
- United States: Connecticut
- place of issue
- United States
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_1096631
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-60a8-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
