1652 Willow Tree Sixpence. Noe 1-A, Salmon 1-A, W-130. Rarity-6+. Fine-12 (PCGS). 26.2 grains. A handsome piece with a charm all its own. The surfaces are originally preserved and attractively toned with warm olive-gray patina blanketing both sides. We start with a more detailed discussion of the reverse, for its characteristics affect some of the detail on the obverse. It is noticeably and universally wavy in appearance with a few prominent recesses to the undulations. (Breen referred to these as tooth marks in his cataloging of this coin for Pine Trees 1974 Promised Lands sale.) The date and denomination, while weak, are legible, and the legend is nearly full and discernible with patience. Little is seen of the inner border, but the outer border is bold at right. The most prominent of the recesses on the reverse resulted in raised areas on the obverse which acquired heavier wear than elsewhere, obscuring some details at right center and near the lower border. Even so, both the tree and legend are nearly full. Double struck on a nearly round planchet that is a bit lightweight, but shows no evidence of clipping. Doubling is clearest on the obverse, where portions of two inner borders are seen at top and left, two Ms prominent in MASATHVSETS. There are few marks of even a trivial nature, and certainly none that catch the eye during in hand inspection.<p>A total of only 15 or so coins are believed extant for the Willow Tree shilling, all of which are from a single die pairing. Of the survivors, five are impounded, three are holed and plugged, and most of the rest are in middle circulated grades, as here. The upper echelons of Condition Census for this Noe number are dominated by the two Boyd-Ford coins, the Garrett-Salmon specimen, the Mickley-Stearns coin that later appeared in our March 2015 sale of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation Collection, and the Partrick specimen. Of the mid-grade circulated survivors, the Sydney F. Martin coin offered here is commendable for its originality, nearly full tree and legends, and freedom from significant marks. Of course, the provenance is also unbeatable, making this, in our estimation, one of the most desirable Willow Tree sixpence at or around the certified Fine grade level. PCGS# 915742. NGC ID: 2ARB. <strong>To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click<a href="https://stacksbowers.com/sydney-f-martin-collection/"target=’_blank’> here.</a></strong> From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex S.H. and H. Chapmans sale of the Charles Ira Bushnell Collection, June 1882, lot 143; New York Coin and Stamp Companys sale of the Lorin G. Parmelee Collection, June 1890, lot 308; Virgil Brand; New Netherlands; Richard Picker; Pine Trees Promised Lands sale, May 1974, lot 195; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006. Plated in both Crosby, Early American Coins, p. 15, and the 1973 Noe reference on Massachusetts Bay Colony silver coinage, Plate VII, Figure 8.
