1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-10, Salmon 8-F, W-510. Rarity-6. IN at Bottom, Ghost Tree. VF-30 (PCGS). A superb example of this elusive Oak Tree shilling variety, with pleasing surface quality and unusually bold detail. The Noe-10 variety is known as the "Delicate Tree" or "Ghost Tree" variety due to the typically very weak central obverse often showing only traces of the tree detail. The offered specimen is a pleasant exception to the norm with strong definition to almost the entirety of the oak tree thanks to the early die state, a generally bold strike, and only light wear. Among examples of the variety weve sold in recent decades, only the fabulous AU-55 (PCGS) Stickney-Garrett-Kendall coin, which sold for $55,812.50 in 2015, exceeds the present coin in terms of the strength of the tree and overall sharpness. The surfaces are a natural silver-gray with some darker toning at the left obverse border. A few light scrapes are seen on each side, most noticeably at the upper reverse, but nothing overly severe. A bit weakly struck at the top and bottom of each side, the centering is excellent. A significant find for the Massachusetts silver collector.
