1652 Shilling Oak Tree, "In" at Bottom MS(PCGS#45362)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auktionator

Stack's Bowers

Losnummer

1553

Erhaltungsgrad

VF30

Preis

7.200

Losbeschreibung

70.68 grains. Well defined overall, the only significant lack of detail is at lower right obverse, where the border is into the letters S IN due to an off center impression and nearby straight planchet clip. The reverse is better centered, but there is little border denticulation and the planchet clip at 9 o'clock (relative to this side) approaches the tops of the letters in NEW. Muted and a tad glossy, the surfaces exhibit dusky sandy-gray color with blushes of deeper charcoal-gray associated with light carbon build up.<p>This piece was struck from the slightly later die state of Noe-13, which Eric Newman first described as Noe 13.3 in his work <em>The Secret of the Good Samaritan Shilling</em> (1959). He points out recutting atop the tree, a new serif on the second S in MASATHVSETS, and the forked crossbar of the nearby T which have since frustrated specialists trying to confidently place this die state, and the later N-13.6, on the Noe 13 to Noe 14 continuum.<p>Modern specialist Christopher Salmon acknowledges this frustration in his 2010 reference <em>The Silver Coins of Massachusett</em>s and notes that it is "the most problematic classification in Massachusetts silver coinage, and one of the most controversial." These die states "differ in obverse die from [Salmon] 10-G and 11a-Gi sufficiently to warrant the distinct designation 11-G." While not as rare as once thought, the Noe-13.3 is a technically interesting sub variety usually found in low grades. This piece is superior to most and will surely attract significant attention.