1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-5, Salmon 3-D, W-470. Rarity-2. IN at Bottom. AU-53 (PCGS).；71.2 grains. This lovely piece is warmly and evenly toned in steel-blue patina over surfaces that exhibit an overall smooth, satiny texture. Centering is not too far from ideal, the obverse drawn minimally to 5 oclock with the border through the tops of the letters TS and IN. The reverse is also slightly off center, here to 11 oclock with the border through the letters W and ENGL. All devices are at least partially discernible, nonetheless, and most are sharp to include the tree, date and denomination. A loupe reveals microscopic roughness to the texture, as well as a few wispy handling marks that include a minuscule pinscratch in the right obverse field above the lowermost branch. These features are minor, easily overlooked, and just as easily forgiven. Both the quality of strike and level of surface preservation are superior for this otherwise relatively obtainable variety of the Oak Tree shilling, making this conditionally rare AU a strong candidate for inclusion in a high grade Colonial type set or specialized collection of Massachusetts Bay Colony silver.；From the Dr. Gordon Shaw Collection. From Steve Ivys Wallace Ralston Sale, May 1983, lot 3. Lot tag and collector envelope with attribution notation included.
