''1650'' Pine Tree Shilling. Noe A(2), Crosby p.63, fig. 20. Essentially as made. 72.7 gns. The Noe Plate Coin. Lovely, rich silver gray color with iridescent toning on both sides. Dated 1650, two years before the coinage was authorized. Unique. This and its cousins have an interesting history that Crosby told in detail on pp. 63-67 of Early Coins. When Woodward sold it in 1867 he described it in hopeful terms as ''Very few Pine Tree Shillings exist of this date, and the few known are supposed to be Pattern Pieces, as the coinage was not regularly commenced till two years afterwards.
This coin cost Mr. Mickley $100; it has a well established history, placing its authenticity beyond any reasonable doubt. In very fine condition, probably unique.'' At the sale, the lot sold for half of Mickley's purchase price. There were three lots in the Mickley sale that were shillings dated 1650 and in the absence of plates it is impossible to know which one the present coin was. This piece, incidentally, did not go to Parmelee. Instead, it passed eventually to T. James Clarke's collection, which is where Noe saw it.
Ex a Mr. ''Getchell'' of Boscawen, New Hampshire before 1854, Dr. Ami Brown by 1854, Joseph C. Mickley Collection, William E. Woodward, Woodward's sale of the Mickley Collection, October 28, 1867, lot 2247 or 2248 or 2249; unknown intermediaries; T. James Clarke, F.C.C. Boyd Estate.
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