 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony. Oak Tree Sixpence. N.21, Cr.1c-D, W.24. R-5. 34.3 gns. Uncirculated. An outstanding example. The Noe Plate Coin. The Wurtzbach Plate Coin. The finest seen: nicer than every other one recorded including the better of the two in Hain (ex Norweb), the other five of the 1991 ANS Exhibition examples, the Stearns, NN 60th pieces (one of which went to Oechsner), both specimens in the MHS (1970) auction, Roper's, the NN 48th sale piece and a lovely one in a private collection. The obverse is an attractive medium pearl gray while the reverse is a slightly deeper shade of gray with some iridescent blue showing principally in the center. The tree is full, the root structure is clear and both shrubs show on the front. The letters in the legend around on this side are clear, sharp everywhere save for the upper right and fully present on the flan.
On the reverse the center is sharp, the letters in the legend around are bold save for the upper left and the entire design is present on the flan. Both sides just about perfectly centered, the obverse a little off to the upper right leaving extra metal showing at the lower left. One small edge nick noticeable on the obverse at about 6:00 is the only defect requiring specific mention. Wurtzbach described the coin on his collector's ticket as ''Wonderful Gem Condition.''
Ex John G. Mills Collection (S.H. & H. Chapman, April 27, 1904, lot 19); Clarence S. Bement Collection (Henry Chapman, May 29, 1916, lot 6); George H. Earle Collection (June 25, 1912, lot 1932); Carl Wurtzbach, T. James Clarke, F.C.C. Boyd Collections.
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