1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-1, Salmon 1-A, W-430. Rarity-3. IN at Left. AU-55 (PCGS). 73.5 grains. A lovely example, and about as nice as one is likely to find for an Oak Tree shilling at the uppermost reaches of circulated preservation. The surfaces show clear evidence of gentle handling with an impressively smooth appearance in hand. Even upon close inspection with a loupe we see no marks of note apart from a solitary hairline at the left reverse border, after the letter N in AN. There is also a bit of light surface build up in the protected areas around the design elements, mostly the peripheral letters, and more so on the reverse than obverse. The impression is well centered on a somewhat irregular planchet that is a bit ragged at left and right, mostly due to shallow clipping that hardly impinges on the design. The legends on both sides are full, in fact, with only the very tops of the letters ASAT off the flan at upper right obverse, left peripheral letters on both sides soft, yet still legible. The tree and other central motifs are full, including the inner borders. The entire package is dressed in warm, even steel-gray patina that delivers strong eye appeal.<p>The Noe-1 Oak Tree shilling is a popular choice as a type coin: relatively common, even in high grades; typically complete in design and bold in strike; showcasing one of the more classically oaken design motifs; coined from dies that created an attractive and easily understood product; and historically significant as "apparently the earliest rocker press variety" in this series (per Christopher J. Salmon, 2010). While it is not unusual for a top caliber cabinet to include a high grade Noe-1 Oak, it is surely a hallmark of a world class early American collection to include one this nice. Worthy of a strong premium. PCGS# 912520. NGC ID: 2ARK. <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 Col. James W. Ellsworth Collection; John Work Garrett; John Work Garrett to The Johns Hopkins University, by gift, 1942; our (Bowers and Ruddys) sale of the Garrett Collection, Part III, October 1980, lot 1204; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
