🥇 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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[trdking]

That didn't take long at all!
Very amazing find

 

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[Pointman]

Congratulations on a once in a lifetime find!!!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Outstanding coin ! Would nominate you for banner, but you already have it.

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Congratulations! That is certainly a Find of a Lifetime and in beautiful condition!

 

[Donnie B from VA]

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

I don't recommend it but an Oak Tree Three Pence was found in England a couple of years ago and the finder sent it to NGC for conservation (that's what the grading companies call it when THEY clean a coin). That coin was conserved by NGC and given an actual grade. It was not given a details grade. The reason I don't recommend it is because I have heard and seen a few horror stories from the "conservation" done to coins at the grading services. I thought it was interesting because if you clean it then the grading service will only give you a details grade and mark the holder as cleaned. If the grading company "conserves" the coin then you might get an actual grade.

 

[toasted]

I don't recommend it but an Oak Tree Three Pence was found in England a couple of years ago and the finder sent it to NGC for conservation (that's what the grading companies call it when THEY clean a coin). That coin was conserved by NGC and given an actual grade. It was not given a details grade. The reason I don't recommend it is because I have heard and seen a few horror stories from the "conservation" done to coins at the grading services. I thought it was interesting because if you clean it then the grading service will only give you a details grade and mark the holder as cleaned. If the grading company "conserves" the coin then you might get an actual grade.

Thanks. I doubt Ill send it away. MASATHVSETS, the tree and date stand out pretty well now and the rest just gives it more character. No guarantee I would be happy with the results if cleaned any further

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Thanks. I doubt Ill send it away. MASATHVSETS, the tree and date stand out pretty well now and the rest just gives it more character. No guarantee I would be happy with the results if cleaned any further

I didn't clean mine either. It still has dirt on it from the day I found it. If my kids sell it after I'm gone then they can have it "conserved" by NGC or PCGS.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Killer find, congrats!

 

[detectahead]

Nice dig! Congrats!

 

[Bartman]

Wow, insane find. That's my number one bucketlister and where I'm from to boot. I figured many of these didn't make it out of MA down to MD.
Congrats!

 

[powrsurg]

PGS Certification is in someones future. Wow! This is amazing

 

[toasted]

Did a little more work on it. Very happy with the results

 

[diggingthe1]

That coin has a mystique about it. It would be hard to stop looking at. Congratulations!!!!

 

[RustyGold]

Banner brother! Congrats!

 

[skarmajunga]

Awesome find

 

[Megalodon]

Late to the banner party. Congrats for finding such a worthy specimen and for the care you took to carefully clean it.

I have no idea how these are graded. I've seen high grade examples, even AU, with less detail, especially in the tree, than your coin.

 

[toasted]

Late to the banner party. Congrats for finding such a worthy specimen and for the care you took to carefully clean it.

I have no idea how these are graded. I've seen high grade examples, even AU, with less detail, especially in the tree, than your coin.

Im not so sure most would agree with me even attempting to clean it but as the centerpiece of my collection, what good is a tree coin if the tree does not stand out. The obverse was not apealing to me with the flaking patina. Im sure its got value as it has great detail but with environmental damage, its anybody’s guess how much

 

[Doc Arey]

Banner!

 

[oyat]

you found what usa detectorist wish bucket list

congrats sir

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

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

Toasted - A thousand apologies for not offering my compliments on your recovery of a Pine Tree shilling. I've been dealing with this medical condition - every time I look at this post and other great finds on T-Net, my jaw drops to the floor. Your banner is well-deserved. The recovery of Mass Silver outside of New England is impressive and says a lot for your ability in locating very productive sites from the early Colonial Period. You've had an epic year of finds - Mass Silver, cobs, a gold coin - you've been on a roll and good for you! I know of detectorists who have spent years searching here in New England for Mass Silver and their still waiting, searching, hoping. There's GW Digger's coin, as you mentioned. I know of only one other complete Mass Silver coin found in the US outside New England but not far outside New England. It's likely the most valuable coin find in the US by a detectorist. It was a New England six-pence coin. I believe it was sold at auction several years back for $500,000+.

Congrats on your Mass Silver coin recovery. Well done!