1652 Pine Tree Shilling. Large Planchet. Noe-11, Salmon 9-F, W-760. Rarity-4. No H in MASATVSETS. VF-35 (PCGS).4.57 grains. This handsome piece is warmly patinated in sandy-gray with pale powder blue and antique gold undertones evident as the surfaces dip into a light. Striking detail is uneven, the obverse sharpest at the tree and along the upper left border, the reverse fairly bold in the center with the letters AND AN the sharpest features on that side. Some portions of the legends on both sides are illegible. The planchet exhibits extensive, yet shallow clips from 12:30 to 7 oclock relative to the obverse, with slight waviness typical of the method of manufacture where a strip was run through a rocker press. Free of troublesome marks and other post-production blemishes, this richly original and pleasingly smooth example has much to tempt the discerning collector of Massachusetts Bay Colony silver. While Fine and VF examples populate much of the census for the Noe-11 Pine Tree shilling, few examples in that grade range are as nice as this.PCGS# 45371. NGC ID: 2ARW.
