 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony. Pine Tree Shilling. Large Planchet. Backwards N. N.6, Cr.5a-B2. R-6. 68.5 gns. Extremely Fine. A second unusually high grade example of the very scarce N.6 variety. The obverse is toned in light gray with iridescent blue and rose showing while the back is a more even pale gray with gold in the center and a touch of iridescent blue at the right rim. The piece is struck on a somewhat irregular planchet but the obverse inscription is nearly entirely on flan and the reverse is lacking only the tops of ND to be complete. The tree on the front is mostly bold save for the upper branches where the softness is due to the S-shaped bend imparted as the piece was coined. The letters in the legend around on this side are just about complete, show elongation at the top from the roller press and traces of the incusations from clashing at the bottom with resultant damage to IN M.
On the reverse the center is sharp despite the fairly late state of the die and the letters in the peripheral legend around are sharp and bold everywhere save for the bottom where the late state of the die has begun to cause them to fade. The piece is a little irregular in shape, the planchet actually probably not clipped at the upper left (when viewed from the obverse) but rather perhaps struck on the end of the strip with an irregular edge.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd Collection.
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