What Are 1787 Mind Your Business Fugio Cent Coins Worth? (Current Values + Interesting History)

Have you ever seen a 1787 coin that says Mind Your Business?

These Mind Your Business coins are known as Fugio Cents, and they’re the earliest coins ever struck under United States authority as can be verified by contract.

I know that may sound a little technical, but that’s the cool thing about these coins — many classify the Fugio Cent as the first federally issued coin of the United States.

And you can still buy some of these old rare pennies to add to your collection.

I think one of the really amazing things about these Mind Your Business coins is that it’s possible to buy them at relatively affordable prices.

Fugio Cent History

Fugio Cents were produced under contract by private mint operator James Jarvis, who was one of the owners of what was known as the Connecticut Mint.

That mint, which was founded in 1785 and partly stood where the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop in New Haven operates today, struck Connecticut copper coinage. These coins were similar to other copper coins struck by individual states at the time.

Jarvis wrangled a federal contract to strike Fugio Cents by way of a $10,000 bribe he made to Colonel William Duer, who was serving as head of the Board of Treasury. (Talk about having friends in high places — though there’s never any place for bribery, my friends.)

Congressional politicians involved in deciding the fate of the coin were oblivious to the behind-the-scenes shenanigans. They approved the deal in 1787 and authorized the design for the new copper penny as the following:

The Board of Treasury direct the contractor for the copper coinage to stamp on one side of each piece the following device, viz: thirteen circles linked together, a small circle in the middle, with the words ‘United States,’ round it; and in the center, the words ‘We are one;’ on the other side of the same piece the following 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 ‘1787’ below the dial, the words ‘Mind your Business.’

~Professional Coin Grading Services

The contract to produce the Fugio Cents also stipulated that 300 tons of copper coins would be made.

But there was a big problem with that lofty production mandate. You see, the United States didn’t have that much copper on hand at the time.

When all was said and done, only 11,910 pounds of Fugio Cents (about 554,741 coins) were struck.

They were produced in 1788 but carry a backdate of 1787.

What Does Fugio Mean Anyway?

Fugio is sort of a funny-sounding word, isn’t it?

I had to look this up, because I wanted to know more about the meaning of Fugio and why it was used in naming this old penny.

Turns out that Fugio is Latin for the word “flee or “fly” and can be used idiomatically as “time flies.”

That tracks, because there’s that big sundial on the coin — a visual reference to the passage of time.

Ben Franklin’s Connection To Fugio Cents

The 1787 Mind Your Business coin is frequently connected to one of the most pragmatic of Founding Fathers. That would be none other than the affable Ben Franklin.

That’s right, Ben’s the guy who:

• Never became president but invented bifocals
• Flew a kite that helped the world understand more about electricity
• Founded the country’s first bucket-brigade volunteer fire department
• Became the nation’s first postmaster
• AND drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence

Yes, along with all of those milestone achievements, the legendary American patriot is thought to have designed the Fugio Cent.

In fact, many call Fugio Cents the Franklin Cent. There’s a reason for that…

If you compare the Fugio Cent to the 1776 Continental Currency Dollar, which Franklin designed, you’ll see many similarities. These include the shared:

• Sun and sundial design elements
• The legend FUGIO
• And inscription MIND YOUR BUSINESS

Why is the phrase Mind Your Business on this penny?

Well, good ol’ Ben Franklin — the man of a thousand witty quotes — couldn’t resist, could he? The Mind Your Business penny could be taken to say, “Take care of yourself and don’t get involved in others’ affairs.” There are many ways you could read that, too…

As for the We Are One slogan on the Fugio Cent…

It’s a rally call to remind the young United States that it’s a union of many acting as one. This is symbolized in the rings surrounding the WE ARE ONE inscription — each ring representing a state.

How Much Is A Fugio Cent Worth Today?

All Fugio Cents are worth more than their face value of one cent. But I’m guessing you gathered that — given the coin’s incredible historical significance and rarity.

There are two major types of Fugio Cents (both are dated 1787):

1. Original strikes that were made in 1788
2. Reproductions from the mid-19th century known as New Haven restrikes

Both the original Fugio Cents and the New Haven restrikes kinds are scarce to rare. However, the original ones from 1788 are usually more desirable to collectors for their history.

But it doesn’t stop there…

Collectors who specialize in these Mind Your Business coins recognize many Fugio Cent varieties. In fact, the Professional Coin Grading Service attributes more than a dozen types. Some are rarer than others.

In general, 1787 Fugio Cent values start at around $200 for well-worn examples of the most common type of original strikes. These include:

• 1787 Fugio States United, 4 Cinquefoils (these are the ornaments on the head’s side, or obverse, of the coin)
• 1787 Fugio Club Rays, Rounded Ends

Rare and valuable Fugio Cents with values of around $20,000 and up include:

• 1787 Fugio Uni. Sta., Club Rays Concave strike
• 1787 Fugio Club Rays with the word “FUCIO”

Then there is the 1787 Fugio Cross After Date Raised Rims — which is known to have just about 7 examples available for collectors. It comes at a price of about $25,000 (and up).

Conversely, restrikes of the famous 1787 Mind Your Business coin start at around $100 to $150 and are considerably less expensive than the original strikes.

The most valuable Fugio Cents are worth more than $100,000 in uncirculated grades.

However, the highest Fugio Cent price achieved at auction was for a moderately worn specimen of an exceedingly rare 1787 Fugio States United, Club Rays, Concave Ends “FUCIO.” It was encapsulated by Professional Coin Grading Service as Very-Fine 20 “Environmental Damage” and sold for $132,000 at a 2022 auction.