Important British and World Coins including Important Irish Coins from a Private Collection (Part II)

Colonial, Massachusetts, Oak Tree coinage, Shilling, 1652, 4.62g/6h (Noe 1; Durst 16). Reverse struck from a rusty die, good very fine, toned, very rare (£5,000-7,000)

Provenance:
From an old British Collection, originally brought back from the USA in the late 17th century.

Although British, Spanish and other coins were occasionally seen in circulation in the early days of the colony, it was not until 26 May 1652 that an act was passed by the General Court in Boston which provided for the establishment of a mint on American soil. Authorization of three denominations, threepence, sixpence and shilling, was finalised on 11 June and it is believed that coinage of the primary ‘NE’ (New England) series began at the mint house, set on land owned by the appointed mintmaster, John Hull (1624-83), a merchant and goldsmith who had emigrated from Bristol in 1635, sometime after 22 June. The designs were changed in October 1652 to that of a central tree on the obverse, with the denomination and date on the reverse. For the first few years strikings were crude and the shape of the tree had, by the mid-19th century, inspired the name Willow Tree coinage. By 1660 the designs were modified to the so-called Oak Tree style and coinage methods had improved. It is thought that the royalist Sir Thomas Temple (1614-74), governor of Nova Scotia, showed Charles II Oak Tree coins while on a visit to London in 1662 and the King’s displeasure at seemingly having the royal prerogative to strike coins ignored by the colonists was said to have been tempered by Temple informing him, falsely, that the design was inspired by the Royal Oak. In 1662 twopences were authorised (see lot 4439) and in October 1667 the colony’s minting arrangements with Hull were renegotiated. Probably at the same time the design was changed once again, to show a clear representation of a pine tree. On 12 May 1675 another contract was negotiated, extending the coining privilege for a further seven years. The Pine Tree shillings of early style, on broad thin flans, are thought to have been issued prior to 1675; those on small, thick flans are said to post-date 1675 but must have been made prior to the closing of the mint in May 1682