1652 Oak Tree Sixpence. Noe-22, Salmon 2b-B, W-400. Rarity-5. IN on Obverse. EF Details--Filed Rims (PCGS).An exceptional example from these dies showing condition census sharpness. The surfaces are toned in slate-grey and olive brown patina with a subtle powder blue iridescence on the obverse. Considerable traces of luster remain in the fields around the devices. Magnification reveals an area of friction near the base of the tree that is largely unnoticed to the naked eye. A few heavier scrapes are apparent at the lower left reverse, though these are ancient have fully toned over. The obverse is drawn towards 1 oclock as is typically seen, while the reverse is ideally centered with full legends. Traces of friction are seen at the upper obverse rim, but areas of aggressive filing are either non-existent or obscured by the PCGS holder. <p><p><p>The Noe-22 is surprisingly scare overall and incredibly challenging in high grade. It has been absent in some well considered cabinets, including Garrett and Hawn, and found only in lower grades in others, like Roper. The Norweb coin was graded "AU-55" in our 1987 sale and the primary Hain coin was likewise very nice at "Extremely Fine." The Ford Collection contained two examples catalogued as "Choice Extremely Fine" and "Extremely Fine, " and both have since been certified MS-63 by PCGS. More recently, our March 2015 sale of the Kendall Foundation Collection featured a lustrous example graded AU-58 (PCGS). The MS-66*(NGC) Partrick coin is the finest known by a wide margin, struck on a tight thick planchet rather than the usual broad thin planchet. The present example approaches the lower end of the condition census in terms of sharpness and is absolutely a significant find for specialists.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex Heritages sale of May 2005, lot 3; Heritages sale of January 2012, lot 3940.