Fugio Cent: The first coin officially authorized by the United States government was the Fugio cent, also known as the Franklin cent, which was issued in 1787.
Designed by Benjamin Franklin: Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, designed the Fugio cent.
Motto on the Coin: The Fugio cent carries the motto "Mind Your Business" on the obverse, a phrase that Franklin used to remind people to pay attention to their own affairs.
13 Linked Rings: The reverse of the Fugio cent features 13 linked rings, symbolizing the original 13 colonies.
Copper Composition: The Fugio cent was made of copper, a relatively common material at the time, making it accessible and practical for everyday transactions.
Limited Mintage: Only a small number of Fugio cents were minted, making them rare and highly sought after by coin collectors today.
Private Minting: The Fugio cents were not produced by a government mint but were contracted out to private mints, reflecting the early decentralization of coin production in the U.S.
Variety of Designs: There are several known varieties of the Fugio cent, with slight differences in the design details, such as the arrangement of the rays around the sun dial and the positioning of letters.