1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-13, Salmon 10-G, W-520. Rarity-6. IN at Bottom. AU-50 (PCGS).71.7 grains. An exceptional survivor from these dies that ranks as arguably the finest known. Attractively toned in deep slate-grey hues and pleasantly glossy in-hand. It is readily identified by a straight clip at the right obverse edge, though the flan is otherwise nicely rounded. Uniformly sharp and evenly worn, the tree is impressively bold and haloed by subtle traces of luster. A few microscopic hairlines show in the fields on each side but go unnoticed without a glass. The obverse is slightly drawn towards the south, trimming the lower legends, but the reverse is perfectly centered with full legends. Expertly executed and ideally preserved.<p><p><p><p>The rarity of the Noe-13 variety is well acknowledged by collectors and this particular piece has been recognized as one of the finest for over a century. We first trace it back to the Chapman brothers sale of the Ferguson Haines Collection in October 1888. Offered in lot 25, it was described as the finest of just three known and brought $12, which was the highest price for any Massachusetts Silver coin in the sale besides the NE shilling. It was next plated in the 1966 Stearns sale and described as "easily equal to the finest N-13 in existence" and even "sharper than the N-13 pictured in Noe." <p><p>We (Stacks) first handled this piece in our September 1988 sale of the Oechsner Collection, noting that "all obverse and reverse features [are] sharp and clear." Shortly thereafter, it was selected to represent the Noe-13 variety in the May 1991 exhibition of Massachusetts Silver coinage at the ANS. It was plated and described as coin number 52 by curator John Kleeberg in his article on the exhibit published in <em>Money in Pre-Federal America</em> (1992). We next offered this piece in our (Stacks) impressive January 2002 sale of the Hain Family Collection. Cataloger Michael Hodder called it "the finest seen...exceeding all others, " including the Jewett-Ryder-Boyd specimen that has been recently offered with a grade of AU-58 (PCGS). <p>It is finer than the Noe and Wurtzbach plate coins which were both included the Ford Collection and are now graded EF-45 (PCGS). It is numerically tied with the Norweb coin but is clearly the more desirable of the two. A hugely significant opportunity for specialists offering strong eye appeal, technical quality, and a remarkable provenance.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex S.H. and H. Chapmans sale of the Ferguson Haines Collection, October 1888, lot 25; Henry Chapman to C.H. Stearns, February 1889; Mayflower Coin Auctions sale of the C.H. Stearns Collection, December 1966, lot 49; our (Stacks) sale of the Herbert M. Oechsner Collection, September 1988, lot 934; our (Stacks) sale of the Hain Family Collection, January 2002, lot 42; Donald Groves Partrick; Heritages sale of the Donald Groves Partrick Collection, January 2015, lot 5545.
