1652 Pine Tree Shilling. Large Planchet. Noe-9, Salmon 7a-Diii, W-750. Rarity-6-. Without Pellets at Trunk, Reversed N. VF-20 (PCGS). 70.0 grains. A handsome example of this scarce variety displaying blended slate and dove-gray patina with faint golden overtones. The planchet is nearly full weight and pleasantly round, with only minor irregularities in shape that are most pronounced at 3 oclock relative to the obverse. A minor crease in the planchet is evident in the right obverse field, of little concern apart from resulting in an area of more pronounced wear on the reverse at the left of the denomination. Otherwise we note a pleasingly smooth appearance in hand with no marks of consequence and some good gloss. The tree is largely complete and bold, as is MASATHVSETS IN, although the tops of a few letters are off the flan. The reverse is equally well produced with bold to sharp detail to most design elements.<p>The Noe-9 variety is deceptively scarce in all grades and was missing from Stearns, Garrett, Picker (1984) and other notable collections. Partricks was Hains nice duplicate. The Lasser coin at Colonial Williamsburg is a fascinating flip-over double strike. Only one specimen of Noe-9 appeared in our (Stacks) Ford XII sale, the other Boyd coin selling in NN60 in 1968. As noted in the Hain sale and repeated in Ford XII, "the real rarity of Noe 9 may still be underestimated even at R-6." We offered the finest known example certified MS-62 (PCGS) in our March 2015 sale of the Kendall Foundation Collection, where it brought $30,550. Trying to find 15 different examples of this variety might be an impossible challenge. This particular one is exceptionally nice at the VF level and should command a strong bid. PCGS# 45372. NGC ID: 2ARX.
