 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony. Pine Tree Shilling. Small Planchet. N.15, Cr.24-N. R-5. 70.3 gns. Extremely Fine. An important specimen for its grade, higher than usually found. Both the obverse and reverse are toned in light silver gray with traces of iridescent blue and rose. Struck from a later state of the reverse than seen on the Noe plate coin, die failing on the right side quite pronouncedly, causing considerable loss of definition at the upper left on the obverse.
On the front the tree is mostly sharp and clear with full root structure showing; upper left branches soft. The letters in the inscription around are entirely indistinct after MASA until the legend continues at SETS. The inner beaded border is also missing at that position. On the reverse the date and denomination are clear save for the last numeral of the former while the letters in the inscription around are fully legible through NEWENGLAN, being soft or indistinct there until they continue on at DO. The late state of this reverse die appears to have caused the failure to strike up on the front, with the consequent loss of definition, there.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd Collection.
| |
|
