Lot 471
1652 Pine Tree Shilling. Small planchet. PCGS graded VF-35. 69.4 grs. Small obverse letters, date and denomination tucked up against the upper border of dots leaving the most space below the XII. Light to medium gray with deeper charcoal-colored gray around the devices.
The shift from the Oak Tree design to the Pine Tree was a measured process. What is taken to be the final Oak Tree variety is known as the "spiny branches" variety (Noe 14) and looks very much like the Pine Tree. Also, Oak Tree sixpence coins in the varieties Noe 20 through Noe 22 use the same reverse die as the Pine Tree sixpence, Noe 32. It is generally thought the change to the Pine Tree design occurred in 1667 when the first renegotiated minting contract expired and a new agreement was signed. However, there is no proof for this, nor can we be sure that the production of Oak Tree coins ceased before Pine Tree coins began.
In relation to the earlier styles, a vast number of Pine Tree coins were minted. The shillings come in two different series. The first series of Pine Tree shillings, made on large thin planchets, were produced using the same technology as was used for the Oak Tree series (either a rocker arm press or a roller press). The second and final series of Pine Tree shillings were struck on smaller and thicker planchets than the previous series. This was due to the replacement of the rocker arm or roller press by the more sophisticated screw press. In the screw press, an upper and a lower die are pressed together by turning handles attached to a large screw. Hence, the more consistent quality of these small planchet pieces (PCGS # 24) .
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,500.
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| Realized $3,910 |
