Was at a local show today (~20 dealers) and one dealer had a lot of really cool stuff. Very nice banknotes, coins, etc. He had an album full of 2x2s with a lot of interesting coins in it, 1600s/1700s, love tokens, contemporary counterfeits, odds and ends. Among the coins in the album was this piece of copper: The variety, Newman 13-X, was listed on the back of the flip, and the price was $100. I told the dealer to save the Fugio for later in case I didn't find anything else at the show. Checked back an hour later and he was packing up to leave, the Fugio still set aside. I walked up and offered him $75. He took the offer and I took the Fugio home with me. Although it was likely dug up with a metal detector, the details actually aren't terrible, with quite a bit of the lettering on the obverse still visible. Very proud to add the first federally contracted US coin to my collection at a budget price.
Pillar dollar, Fugio, Morgan, $20 Saint, Buffalo nickel -- 5 must-haves for any US collection. Full of history and in that condition, you can let people handle it. Good buy for $75.
Reminds me of when I got my first Liberty Cap Cent - a 1796 S-88 in problem free, smooth Fair-2. Just wild to be holding one of these in your hand with the iconic patriotic design knowing you own it. It's a special feeling.
