New Purchase - 1652 Massachusetts Pine Tree Shilling (Large Planchet)

This is the latest addition to my U.S Colonial collection: A Massachusetts Pine Tree Shilling with large planchet.

It is an interesting and popular variety (Noe-11, Crosby 2a) with Massachusetts spelled as MASATUSETS (no H), and the N's reversed.

Bowers new book, 'Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins' describes this issue as having been struck between 1667 and 1682, probably before the small planchet Pine Tree, and as being generally scarcer than the later.

The book assigns this variety an URS (Universal Rarity Scale) of 7, with 33 to 64 specimens known. (The URS scale Bowers uses is NOT the same as the Sheldon rarity rating as devised by Sheldon for large cents).

This particular coin, from Heritage's July 31st (2009) auction is graded F15 by PCGS, and, quite important to me, the slab also indicates the weight of the coin at 68.05 grains. This is important as many are offered, or have been encapsulated w/o and indication of the weight. The weight gives a good idea of the extent of clipping the coin has seen. Clipping is a common problem with this early coinage with some seen as low as 45-50 grains. The nominal weight for this issue is 70-71 grains, therefore at 68.05 grains this coin has probably not been clipped.

A nice coin, in as nice condition as I could afford, from a very interesting period in American History.

Eduard

 

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Wow

Very Nice:bow:

 

Wow two Pine Tree Shillings posted on CoinTalk today! Very nice coin Eduard, thanks for sharing it.

 

Wow, these pieces are absolutely amazing. :bigeyes: Great pick up! :thumb:

It would be my dream to own one of these some day...

 

Fantastic coin, Eduard; congratulations on acquiring such a nice example of this scarce piece of history.

 

Very nice Eduard! Now I see why you did not even worry about those 1796's. Very sweat indeed. And you were right the one I won does look nicer in hand.

 

I love it! :eat:

These are on my list of wants but way down the list, since they aren't copper.

Ribbit

 

Wonderful.....I envy you! Congratulations! :thumb:

 

As always, Eduard, I admire your taste in coins! Love the tree detail on that piece.
Guy~

 

Fantastic coin. Ever since I started visiting the CRO website I have a new appreciation for colonials.

 

um.....

Do you need help carrying it home?

:thumb:

 

Very nice! I got to see one of them in person at a coin shop I visited last year, but it was not in as nice a condition. I would guess that it is not in the census either, as it was a metal detecting find in that town...

 

That is one of my dream detecting finds!
Along with a gold coin, any kind--

Preferable an early piece, but I'll take any one!

 

Wow that looks awesome!

 

I have a new appreciation for a lot of coins after visiting their website. How lucky are they to have Mark Goodman doing their images?