1652 pine tree shilling

[Jpace87]

Can anyone tell me if this coin looks genuine from these pictures?[

[mhonzell]

Welcome!

This is a coin we'd all love to see, but you will need to try again on the picture posting. Ensure you wait to get a checkmark on the upload before submitting the post.

[Jpace87]

1652

[CopperFinger]

Hello and welcome. Don'tknow any about early coin types but a great coin for first post. Were in the world did you find it? Sure hope it is geunine!

[Paul]

:welcome:

link here...
CH PINE TREE COINAGE

i'm looking forward to m's response here....

[Daniel]

The coin looks authentic in my opinion. I suggest sending this one to ANACS for authentication.

[dipper13]

ANACS only does US minted coins, it will not do this coin, or others. I had to send my Machin Mills coin to NGC, because ANACS refused it.

[mhonzell]

ANACS only does US minted coins, it will not do this coin, or others. I had to send my Machin Mills coin to NGC, because ANACS refused it.

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. The first coins bore a Willow Tree. The second series bore an Oak Tree. The third series were Pine Trees.

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.

These coins were actually struck between 1667 and 1674. So, 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.

So, while one of the three first coins produced in the States, we were not United at the time. But, ANACS will slab this one. lol:

ANACS Example

lf.jpg (13.83 KiB) Viewed 3204 times

==========================
Regarding the coin of the OP:
Was this coin dug up?
Based on the obverse picture, it appears to be environmentally damaged and possibly cleaned. Even so, this coin could be worth thousands. The strike is very well centered!

What is the diameter and weight of this coin?

The dots (pellets) to either side of the tree trunk and the shape of the top of the 5 in 1652 imply it should be a large planchet. (~27mm) NOE 1?

Looks authentic to me, but Daniel is probably the better judge on this one!

[Daniel]

The variety is based on die pair and I can't see the date well enough in these images.