1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-2, Salmon 1-B, W-440. Rarity-6+. ANDO. AU-53 (PCGS). 70.7 grains. A fully original, thoroughly appealing example of this elusive Oak Tree shilling variety. Both sides are awash in deep, rich patina of dominant rose-gray, direct lighting also revealing vivid powder blue undertones. The surfaces are frosty with appreciable luster, the texture a bit rough in places (as made), but with few marks that come readily to view. Obverse impression off center to 12:30, tops of letters MASAT off flan, right periphery smooth and devoid of detail. The reverse shows a similar quality of strike, off center to 2 oclock, border engaging tops of letters EWE, left periphery nearly smooth with only the bottoms of AN discernible. Other areas on both sides are noticeably bolder, the tree with full, crisp branches, although its trunk and root structure are somewhat soft. Partial outer circles are evident, inner circles essentially complete despite the aforementioned softness at right obverse. A minor obverse edge bruise just past 9 oclock is noted solely for accuracy, as are trivial marks at right obverse and left reverse borders, in reverse field after the final Roman numeral I. All of the latter will require magnification to discern.<p>The Noe-2 Oak Tree shilling is a very rare variety, easy to discern from the similar Noe-1 by virtue of its medallic alignment rather than the typical coin alignment of the Noe-1. Another major distinction between the two varieties is the rosette punctuation before NEW on the reverse of Noe-2, which takes the place of the M in DOM, and is crisp and clear on the present specimen. The rarity of this variety was recognized early on and was expressed well in the cataloging of the 1966 Stearns sale: "N-2 is the only Oak Tree with a rosette. It is almost impossible to obtain." The Boyd-Ford collection included just one specimen, the exceptional Mint State coin that is also the Salmon plate coin. The 1970 Appleton-MHS sale, Garrett, Picker, and Oechsner had none. With solid AU quality and strong eye appeal, the Sydney F. Martin specimen ranks comfortably within the Condition Census. In addition to the aforementioned Boyd-Ford coin, in fact, only the Partrick and Lanz-Weinberg specimens are finer. PCGS# 915743. NGC ID: 2ARM. <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 from the Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
