🥇 BANNER !!! 1652 Pine Tree Shilling !!!

[toasted]

Almost had a heart attack today when I dug an odd square shaped piece of metal. Looked closer and saw 1652 and about collapsed. It looks clipped but its near full weight at 4.4 grams. Were these clipped like this at the mint sometimes? I havent done a thing to it other than rinse it off with fresh water. Scared to do anything to it really as it looks to have great details underneath. EDIT: I did q-tip some of the flakyness off on the obverse but Im not going any farther for now

 

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[Blak bart]

Looking good up there congrats toasted !!

 

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[toasted]

Looking good up there congrats toasted !!

Thank you and thank you everyone else for your votes. Ill be riding this high for a long time

 

[Wildcat1750]

1600s and made in America... Congratulations on the BANNER!

 

[DirtDigginDan]

That is far out man! Sorry for my ignorance, but is that British? I can`t find it in my Red book!

 

[tamrock]

Historic find for sure. Congratulations

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I likely would have been in need of a nappy change after finding that bad girl !

Oh man, there are so many dirty things I'd love to say about your comment Arg... but I won't because this is a 'family friendly' website.

Congrats on achieving BANNER #3 toasted!

Dave

 

[civilman1]

Congrats

 

[CRUSADER]

Late to the party!

 

[bulletproof002000]

Absolutely unbelievable find, congrats.

 

[Digger RJ]

Killer!!!!!!!!!!! I bet You’re still floored!!! Awesome!!!!! Congrats!!!!!!

 

[scott9050]

That is far out man! Sorry for my ignorance, but is that British? I can`t find it in my Red book!

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1082064

 

[silverfreak]

Congrats!!!!!

 

[: Michael-Robert.]

DESCRIPTION- As early as 1650, the colony of Massachusetts Bay was a commercial success. But an inadequate supply of money put its future development in jeopardy. England was not inclined to send gold and silver coins to the colonies, for they were in short supply in the mother country.Taking matters into their own hands, Boston authorities allowed two settlers, John Hull and Robert Sanderson, to set up a mint in the capital in 1652. The two were soon striking silver coinage-shillings, sixpences, and threepences. Nearly all of the new coins bore the same date: 1652.This was the origin of America's most famous colonial coin, the pine tree shilling. The name comes from the tree found on the obverse. It may symbolize one of the Bay Colony's prime exports, pine trees for ships' masts. Massachusetts coinage not only circulated within that colony, but was generally accepted throughout the Northeast, becoming a monetary standard in its own right.Why the 1652 date? Some believe that it was intended to commemorate the founding of the Massachusetts mint, which did occur in 1652. Others believe the choice was a reflection of larger political events. Coinage was a prerogative of the King. In theory, these colonists had no right to strike their own coins, no matter how great their need.But in 1652, there was no king. King Charles had been beheaded three years previously, and England was a republic. The people in Massachusetts may have cleverly decided to put that date on their coinage so that they could deny any illegality when and if the monarchy were reestablished. Shilling is likely to have been minted between 1652 - 1670. In 1682, the Hull/Sanderson mint closed after closer royal scrutiny of the operation.MAKER: Massachusetts Bay Colony . PLACE MADE: United States: Massachusetts

 

[toasted]

Overweight planchets were adjusted by clipping their edges until they reached the proper weight. That was probably done at the mint.

Yep. Looks like the Noe 1 variety that I have is known for the sort of clipping you seen on mine. Mine also appears to have no die breaks so an early die state coin as well as no obvious planchet flaws. Without the environmental damage it could have possibly been a five figure coin

 

[JerV3]

Congrats,

That is an amazing coin to find. Thank you for sharing it.

Jer

 

[Steve in PA]

Congrats on such an incredible find. After all those cobs, you were due for a tree coin

 

[smallfoot]

Way to go toasted!

 

[toasted]

Congrats on such an incredible find. After all those cobs, you were due for a tree coin

Thanks. I thought digging a cob was a rush. This one is on a whole other level but there’s always something else on the list. A hammered English silver or a colonial gold coin would be nice. Its an endless list I still enjoy digging rosies and mercs for that matter though Ive only found a few this year

 

[toasted]

It looks great. I absolutely love the clipping - it reminds me of a "Klippe" from the Rooswijk or similar wreck.

Just curious. Ive seen the sixpence youve found but do you have any information about any other complete tree coins found outside of New England. I dont think one has ever been posted on here at least for whatever thats worth

 

[Horst]

wow congrats!!! How long did it take you to sauber up after that party??