| Description |
1652 SHILNG Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet AU58 NGC. Noe-6, W-720, Salmon 5-Di, R.6. 68.0 grains. A wonderfully well struck up example. The planchet of this near-Mint example is almost square. Areas of silver and pewter are revealed on predominantly brown-gray surfaces. The obverse displays nice centering overall, with only tiny portions of the H and V in MASATHVSETS missing. On the reverse, larger portions of AND in ENGLAND are absent. The N of IN is backwards. Scattered planchet flaws appear, primarily at the lower left corner of the obverse. Importantly, the pine tree design exhibits a sharp strike, with even the tree's root structure clearly visible. The few marks appearing do not necessitate individual mention. On this variety, there are eight branches on each side of the tree, arranged symmetrically. Though similar to the 4-D and 4-Di varieties, the secondary branch on the next to lowest branch at right no longer remains connected on the Salmon 5-Di variety and appears to be floating. Another diagnostic of this variety is that the uppermost branch at right is short and bifurcating. Die clashing appears on the lower portions of the obverse. Although the reverse for this variety is the same die as the 4-Di variety, the 5-Di variety reveals a more advanced die state, with strike softness present on this example near 6 o'clock. The recovery of materials in the early 1980s from the Feversham, a New York-based British frigate that sank off the coast of Nova Scotia in October 1711, provided strong insight into the money used in Colonial America. The coins salvaged from the wreck include pieces from Latin America, Holland, Britain, and Spain. In addition, a significant number of Massachusetts silver coins were present, a surprise to many. Among them were several pieces sheared into smaller fractions, similar to the treatment of Spanish coins, as a means of making smaller change. The discovery of the Massachusetts pieces further revealed their importance in the channels of commerce. Ex: C.H. Stearns (Mayflower Coin Auctions, Inc., 12/1966), lot 841; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $8,812.50. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions. |
