1652 Massachusetts Pine Tree Threepence and more from virgin 1660 homesite!

[oxbowbarefoot]

What an incredible day at a 1660 virgin homesite in Massachusetts! My first find was a huge Brown Bess musket ball. Nice way to get the day started. My next target was the best find of the day, and one of my best finds ever, a 1652 Pine Tree Threepence! It's either a Noe 36 or a Noe 37 variety. Unfortunately the tree side is tough to make a definitive call. Either way, it's well over a $1000 coin��. Then came a sweet George I Farthing. Next find was an Abraham Lincoln related thing, not sure what it is yet. Right next to that was a colonial gold broach. After an early ox knob and a a bale seal came a great goulcher lock or dog lock off a musket or rifle. All in all, a fantastic day!

Thank you Dr. R.M. Gramly for the tip on the location!

Updates:
The Pine Tree Threepence is a Noe 36/Salmon 2-B, Rarity 4, only 75-200 known!
The "dog lock" was actually just part of an old cap gun, darn!
The Lincoln item is a ferrotype campaign button from the 1860 election

 

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[Rhode Hog]

Great finds,i know how hard it is to find Mass tree coins, so may your next one be the first N.E posted here.

 

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[Erving]

You never seize to amaze me Jason. Congrats on some outstanding finds.

 

[joee5]

Grats on the fart

 

[Fugio]

1652 Massachusetts Threepence is a bucket list coin for sure. Not to mention all of your other wonderful finds...keep it up!

 

[Carolina Tom]

That is an incredible set of finds. Congrats, and WOW!

 

[Reelsnrods]

Man... That is a fantastic day out!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Many congrats Jason for adding another tree coin to your collection. Like they say, if there's one, there may be more. Good luck!

 

[fishstick]

STELLAR HUNT OX!!!!!!! I found the same prez token awhile back. A TRUE HEARTBREAKER!!!!! CONGRATZ on the stunning SILVER!!!!!!!

 

[terpfan]

Banner day for sure, not only for the pine tree threepence but also for the colonial gold broach. I know the collector value of the pine tree is diminished by its wear, but one has to be impressed by the length of time that coin was in circulation--perhaps 100 years or more?

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

Banner day for sure, not only for the pine tree threepence but also for the colonial gold broach. I know the collector value of the pine tree is diminished by its wear, but one has to be impressed by the length of time that coin was in circulation--perhaps 100 years or more?

Thanks, terpfan.

The threepence was probably lost relatively soon after minting, as there is still areas of high relief and good detail. Very few of these were struck strongly on both sides because of the rocker press technology and the extreme thinness of the planchet. It was probably a later coin, because of the widened die, unless its the Noe 37.
The gold brooch was definitely a surprise!

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

I'll post a pic of my three Mass silvers together later. This is my second Pine Tree Threepence, the other one was a quarter cut from shilling.

 

[CoilyGirl]

Stellar hunt oxbow! That little brooch is just beautiful and I know from reading how rare those old threepence are.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Incredible day all the way dude What an amazing site. Looking forward to seeing what else turns up there. That hammer and lock plate look thin and the plate actually looks pewter... makes me wonder if that's part of a toy musket or something. Mind blowing hunt, my vote is in

 

[Isaac]

Incredible day all the way dude What an amazing site. Looking forward to seeing what else turns up there. That hammer and lock plate look thin and the plate actually looks pewter... makes me wonder if that's part of a toy musket or something. Mind blowing hunt, my vote is in

I thought the same. It looked similar to civil war musket lock plates, but I'm not an expert on dating muskets by any means, just a thought I had. Either way it's really cool!

 

[46Wheat]

What a day . Congrats

 

[doninbrewster]

Looks like you got yourself some great dirt to work. Value doesn't matter so much on the Pine Tree Threepence as the fact that you found one. Great going.

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

Incredible day all the way dude What an amazing site. Looking forward to seeing what else turns up there. That hammer and lock plate look thin and the plate actually looks pewter... makes me wonder if that's part of a toy musket or something. Mind blowing hunt, my vote is in

I believe it is pewter, which is really unusual. The closest match I could find is a Civil War Springfield rifle, but Dr. Gramly had some very old rare books with similar looking dog locks from the late 1500's-1650's. That would make sense at this site given the family history. I'll send pictures to a battlefield archaeologist I met at the ASAA meeting on Saturday. I'll keep you guys updated as I learn more about it.

 

[Iron Patch]

The 37 was a reengraved 36, hard to tell the difference unless they are in higher grades. It's most likely a Noe 36, since they were more common with a R4 rarity vs a R5.

Well that's cool it was the same die.... better than poor condition and not having any idea. It's too bad it was reengraved, and not just altered slightly, because if altered I assume it would be... Noe-36 & Noe-36a ... and then you would be able to just say.... 36! (and get away with it for the most part)

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

Well that's cool it was the same die.... better than poor condition and not having any idea. It's too bad it was reengraved, and not just altered slightly, because if altered I assume it would be... Noe-36 & Noe-36a ... and then you would be able to just say.... 36! (and get away with it for the most part)

There is still some dirt stuck on the back, if I can safely loosen it up, maybe a little more detail will become apparent and I'll be able to nail down the ID. There is a big difference between a R4 and R5 coin, so it would be sweet if its a Noe 37. I'm happy to add it to my collection no matter what. Now I just need a 2-pence, 6-pence, Willow Tree and NE. Sounds doable, right?

 

[Iron Patch]

There is still some dirt stuck on the back, if I can safely loosen it up, maybe a little more detail will become apparent and I'll be able to nail down the ID. There is a big difference between a R4 and R5 coin, so it would be sweet if its a Noe 37. I'm happy to add it to my collection no matter what. Now I just need a 2-pence, 6-pence, Willow Tree and NE. Sounds doable, right?

In my previous post I sort of suggested it's too bad it was not just altered, but being reengraved no doubt gives a much better chance for ID. What you do is find a high grade example of each 36 and 37 and note all the small differences.... and then you only have to find one example on your coin to prove your coin. It may be possible.

2-pence, 6-pence, Willow Tree and NE..... Doable? I doubt it... time to work with, hell yeah!