1652 SHILNG Pine Tree Shilling, Small Planchet, Noe-20, W-860, Salmon 6-B, R.7, Fine 15 NGC. 67.9 grains. Die alignment: 30?. A true rarity among the Small Planchet Pine Tree shillings. As is clearly seen, both dies were badly cracked: on the obverse, this is most obvious at 12 o'clock between H and V, at 9 o'clock by the S, and above 3 o'clock below the T. On the reverse, large cracks above NE of NEW and through D AN show the die's deterioration (it was used on six other varieties). The coin itself is worn, but well-centered and without any real problems. The coloration is pleasant, and on the whole this piece is a very nice example of a rare variety. Listed on page 41 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: C.H. Stearns Collection (Mayflower, 12/1966), lot 106; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15009, realized $3360. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1652 SHILNG Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet, Reverse N, Noe-12, W-770, Salmon 10-X, Unique, VF30 NGC. 62.3 grains. Die alignment: 345?. The central obverse device is a distinctive tree with short branches beginning nearly halfway up the thick trunk: six branches to the left of the trunk and seven to the right. A heavily but neatly punched circle of dots surrounds the tree, with the irregularly spelled legend MASASTHVSETS vI?v around the margins, an external border of dots being barely visible between 4 and 7 o'clock. The reverse features the usual 1652 above XII in the center, within a tightly circumscribed circle of dots. The legend, ?EW?E?GLA?D?A?:DO: continues the use of the reversed N's. The dotted outer border is almost entirely visible. Both sides show a weak central strike, most obvious on the reverse. The color is a uniform gray with brown tones; the surfaces show a light granularity that is not distracting. The eye-appeal remains strong, with the coin being well-centered and the dies neatly laid out. This is the only known specimen of this fascinating variety, long a favorite of Colonial specialists, who have spent much time since its discovery attempting to understand it. The unusual spelling MASASTHVSETS (the sole instance of this spelling on a Massachusetts silver coin) attracts attention, as does the distinctive tree (whose branches begin higher up on the trunk than on any other variety). Much discussion has been made of the planchet size of the Noe-12 and its status as a regular mint product or a contemporary circulating counterfeit. It is generally accepted that Noe-13, 14 and 31 are circulating counterfeits of the period; this doesn't detract from their historical interest, but does affect how we fit these pieces into the Massachusetts silver series. Crosby and Noe both felt this coin was a legitimate product of the mint at Boston and included it in their listings as such. In more recent times, Eric P. Newman, Q. David Bowers, and Tony Terranova have agreed with this perspective. Walter Breen felt it was more likely a circulating counterfeit, basing most of his reasoning on the light weight of this sole existing specimen. Richard Picker, Don Taxay, Philip Mossman, and Chris Salmon have deemed its status as uncertain. On the question of planchet size, the authorities are also split: Noe and Bowers categorize it as a Large Planchet piece; Lou Jordan, Terranova, Breen, and Taxay consider it a Small Planchet variety. It is stylistically similar to Small Planchet pieces in terms of the shape of the tree and style of lettering. The diameter, as well as the manner of planchet preparation, more closely resemble Large Planchet pieces. Eric P. Newman has been firm in his defense of the Noe-12 as a legitimate issue of the mint at Boston. Both he and F.C.C. Boyd considered it an integral part of any complete collection of Pine Tree coinage. Indeed, the two agreed to share the coin under an unusual arrangement. Newman wrote to Boyd on August 18, 1958: {blockquote}"As you know, I acquired this coin through B.G. Johnson from the Green collection (ex Newcomer) and have owned it for many years. This variety will fill an important gap in your marvelous collection of Massachusetts silver pieces. You have been so kind and generous to me I agree that you are to have this coin as long as you personally retain ownership of your collection of varieties of Massachusetts silver. "If I die while you are retaining this coin in accordance with the above conditions the coin shall become your property absolutely and my estate shall have no further rights with respect to it. If you transfer ownership of your collection of varieties of Massachusetts silver or if you predecease me the coin is to be returned to me as my property and your estate shall have no further rights with respect to it."{/blockquote} This arrangement, which can only be called gentlemanly, is remarkable for what it tells us about the personalities of these two giants in the numismatic field. It demonstrates a level of trust and generosity that would be easy to think of now as a thing of the past were it not for Newman's continuing philanthropic work and his dedication to sharing his collections with the world. Adding to the coin's mystique is its provenance as part of the Castine Deposit, a hoard of 17th-century silver coins buried around 1704 in what is now Penobscot, Maine near Castine. The hoard was uncovered in 1840 by Captain Stephen Grindle and his son Samuel, and this specific coin was brought to the attention of numismatists in 1863, when it was offered at auction by W. Elliot Woodward. As part of Woodward's promotional efforts for that sale, he inserted a brief article in the October 1863 issue of the Historical Magazine. This is our source for the attribution of this coin to the Castine deposit and the only record noting early owner Charles Payson: {blockquote}"Unique Pine Tree Shilling.-In a collection of coins recently belonging to Chas. Payson, Esq., of Portland, Maine, I find a very rare and probably unique specimen of the Pine Tree coinage. The piece is peculiar in several respects, but it differs from all others which I have ever met with in the legend, which in this reads Masasthusets instead of Massachusetts, as on the usual type. The coin is from the celebrated deposit found at Castine in 1840."{/blockquote} While Noe suggested that the illustration in Crosby depicts a second example, this is incorrect. Crosby's illustration, taken from a cast, shows less detail than the present coin, but the centering and edges are a perfect match, making it clear that this remains a unique coin. Listed on page 41 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Castine Hoard (1840); Charles E. Payson (W. Elliot Woodward, 10/1863), lot 2467; Waldo C. Newcomer; "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Eric P. Newman and Burdette G. Johnson; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15008, realized $102000. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1652 SHILNG Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet, Reversed N, Noe-9, W-750, Salmon 7a-Diii, R.6, XF45 NGC. 72.0 grains. Die alignment: 360?. An exceptional example of this rare variety. The tree is lightly struck, as always, and the coin as a whole is struck more firmly on the upper half of the planchet than on the lower. The charm of the hand-cut legends is accentuated by the remarkable spelling of E?GLAND, with the first N backwards and the second correct. The golden gray toning with a touch of rose is exactly what one expects in an original piece. Though rated R.6, the Noe-9 must surely be toward the upper end of that rating, closer to R.7 than R.5. Listed on page 41 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Stack's (10/1970), lot 35; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15007, realized $8400. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1652 3PENCE Pine Tree Threepence, Pellets at Trunk, Noe-34, W-630, Salmon 1-A, R.4, XF45 NGC. 17.5 grains. Die alignment: 360?. The Noe-34 is invariably struck with the top of the obverse die off planchet -- even the Noe plate coin exhibits this trait. The reverse, while better centered, is somewhat crudely laid out, with NEWENGLAND appearing as one word followed by a too-wide break, and with the date appearing to be punctuated 16.52 by the central dot. This golden-hued example is better than most, with strong detail and an especially nice reverse (the weakness at EN being typical of the variety). A tiny planchet crack is present on the obverse to the right of the top of the tree. Listed on page 41 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Spink's (1962); Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15005, realized $4080. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1652 SHILNG Oak Tree Shilling, IN at Bottom, Noe-11, W-510, Salmon 9-Fi, R.6, VF30 NGC. 69.4 grains. Die alignment: 360?. A complex tree dominates the obverse of this Oak Tree variety, with a thick, textured trunk and distinct shrubs on either side, all of it set on top of a curved hill. This central device was entirely recut over the Noe-10 "Ghost Tree" obverse, at which time the legend was also strengthened. While the coin is a bit off-center, the positioning of MASATHVSETS and NEW ENGLAND is nicely emphasized. Rose highlights show through the brown-gray background color, attesting to the coin's originality. Listed on page 41 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: C.H. Stearns Collection (Mayflower, 12/1966), lot 42; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15004, realized $4320. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1652 3PENCE Oak Tree Threepence, No IN on Obverse, Noe-27.1, W-300, Salmon 5-Aii, R.7, XF40 NGC. 16.5 grains. Die alignment: 360?. Golden-brown toning emphasizes the light gray of the lettering and central devices on this small-denomination piece. The obverse's central tree is distinct, as is the clear and bold 1652 / III on the reverse. An uneven strike affects the peripheries, but leaves most of the legends legible. The mint at Boston had to husband its resources carefully, and they recut and reused old dies extensively. This can be seen in the legends on both sides, particularly in the first A and final S of MASATHVSETS and the EW of NEW. This is a rare die state. Listed on page 40 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: C.J. Dochkus (4/16/1958); Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15002, realized $8700. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1662 2PENCE Oak Tree Twopence, Large 2, Noe-32, W-240, Salmon 1-B, R.5, AU53 NGC. 12.4 grains. Die alignment: 330?. A well-centered and attractive example of this intriguing issue, which is usually encountered struck off-center. The tree is sharp and the legends distinct, having received a stable strike that is only a bit weak around 2 o'clock on the obverse and the corresponding area of the reverse. A uniform gray is underscored by pleasing gold toning in some of the protected areas, most noticeable in the legends. While the other denominations of the Massachusetts Willow, Oak, and Pine Tree silver series are all dated 1652, the Oak Tree twopence is unique not only for its value but because of its date. Issued in response to a need for smaller change, the coins were authorized on May 16, 1662 and ordered to be produced in large numbers: half the total value of the coinage minted that year was to be struck in twopence pieces. The Noe-32 variety is an early die state of the same recut reverse die used for Noe-33 and 34, with only a hint of the die breaks that distinguish the latter varieties. Listed on page 40 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eckfeldt; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15001, realized $8400. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.