1662 Massachusetts Oak Tree twopence. Noe-30, Salmon 1-A, W-240. Small 2. MS-62 (PCGS).13.5 grains. A spectacular example of this variety and type, boldly lustrous and highly attractive. Both sides are frosty deep gray, the reverse a bit more brightly lustrous and showing some golden toning. The obverse is crisp and fully struck, with a substantial unstruck area outside the beaded border from 10:00 to 3:00. The border and tops of the legends are off the planchet from 6:00 to 9:00 from this common misalignment. The reverse is well struck and ideally centered, just a little wavy and showing some raised spalling artifacts at the lower periphery. All design elements are crisp, and the die state places this solidly within the Noe-30 variety. Though nice examples of the 1662 Oak Tree twopence type are not unheard of, this ranks high among survivors of both the specific variety and the denomination as a whole. This outpaces both the Kendall Noe-30, graded AU-55 (PCGS), and the Partrick MS-63 (NGC) coin by a substantial margin. Ford:66 was more attractive than Ford:65, and this may be finer than either of them. If it isnt the finest known of this Noe number, it would surely be very difficult to improve upon.PCGS Population (Small 2 variety only): 2; none finer.From the Archangel Collection. Acquired privately, November 1975.
