1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-13.6, Salmon 11-G, W-520. Rarity-6. IN at Bottom. Spiny Tree Variant. VG-8 (PCGS).65.8 grains. An attractive and ideally worn example of this rare die state. Aligned towards 6 oclock on the obverse but nicely centered on the reverse. The weakness at the tree seen for Noe-13.3 is now more obvious and just the roots remain visible on the obverse. The legends are largely obscured, with only ATHV distinct at the upper edge and IN near the bottom. The reverse legends are also soft, thought the date and denomination are remarkably strong at center. Toned in light dove-grey shades and free from any distracting abrasions.<p>The final recutting of these dies before the transformation into Noe 14, the Noe 13.6 die state is distinguished by "the dots in the circles [having been] enlarged and the top of A [having been] extended to touch a dot in the outer circle, " according to Eric Newman. Further, "the E has forked serifs [and] the top and bottom of the first S have serifs."<p>Specialist Christoper Salmon describes the Noe-13.3 and 13.6 die states as "intermediate types between [Salmon] 10-G and 11a-Gi which we will call 11-G, and which represent different stages if recutting of the 10 die which have not yet culminated in the fully developed Spiny Tree type, but which approach it." He goes on to calls these dies states "the most subtle and problematic of the Massachusetts silver coinage in terms of attribution." A third die state classically known as Noe-13.9 has been found to be indistinguishable from Noe-14. <p>From the Robert M. Martin Collection.
