 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony. Pine Tree Shilling. Large Planchet. Backwards N. N.10, Cr.1a-C. R-3. 73.0 gns. About Uncirculated. A lovely example of a variety almost always found in much lower grade. The obverse is light gray with iridescent gold while the reverse is a darker shade of gray with an even deeper toning band running horizontally the upper third of the coin. The tree on the front is sharp and bold, the split trunk is clear, some root detail can be seen, and the ''bird's nest'' break in the right branches can be seen quite clearly. The peripheral legend around is sharp most everywhere save for the top where the elongations have drawn it out and the lower right where it is a little soft due to the way the piece was struck. The legend is nearly entirely on flan save for the extreme left where the tops of MAS run off the edge.
On the back the denomination and date are clear despite the toning band running through the latter and the letters in the legend are fully legible and completely on flan. The clip at the top of the reverse intrudes into the top of the first A but is not seriously detracting. The surfaces show some original mint frost commensurate with the grade awarded the piece.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd Collection.
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