Massachusetts silver moves from austere NE punches to Willow, Oak, and Pine Tree designs in multiple denominations and planchet formats.

The catalog covers normalized Massachusetts silver types conventionally dated 1652 through the final 1662 issues.

Verified side pairMode A · presentation polish
Obverse1652 Pine Tree Shilling reference pair obverse
Reverse1652 Pine Tree Shilling reference pair reverse
1652 Pine Tree Shilling reference pair

Representative same-object obverse and reverse. Mode A presentation polish removed only the source background; coin surfaces and diagnostics were not reconstructed.

Identity and classification

Object class
Colony-authorized silver coin
Authority
Massachusetts General Court
Classification boundary
Original colonial coinage · denomination and die family required
Catalog status
Substantial structured catalog

Local silver under a conventional date

The Massachusetts Bay Colony struck silver for regional commerce when dependable small money was scarce.

Many later tree coins retained the date 1652, so the inscription is not always a literal production year.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

Early pieces use NE punches; later coins show a named tree with MASATHVSETS or a related legend.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

Roman-numeral denominations, NEW ENGLAND legends, and the conventional 1652 date distinguish values and types.

Attributed object catalog

Rows preserve the current classification; blank production is unknown, not zero.

(1652) 3P New England(1652) 6P New England(1652) Shilling New England1652 3P Willow Tree1652 6P Willow Tree1652 Shilling Willow Tree1652 Shilling Oak Tree1652 Shilling Oak Tree, "In" at Left1652 Shilling Oak Tree, ANDO1652 Shilling Oak Tree, "In" at Bottom1652 Shilling Oak Tree, Ghost Tree1652 Shilling Oak Tree, Spiny Tree1652 6P Oak Tree1652 6P Oak Tree, IN on Obverse1652 6P Oak Tree, IN on Reverse1850s 6P Oak Tree Wyatt Copy1652 3P Oak Tree1652 3P Oak Tree, "In" on Obverse1652 3P Oak Tree, No "In" on Obverse1662 2P Oak Tree1662 2P Oak Tree, Small 21662 2P Oak Tree, Large 21652 3P Pine Tree1652 3P Pine Tree, with Pellets1652 3P Pine Tree, No Pellets1652 6P Pine Tree1652 6P Pine Tree, with Pellets1652 6P Pine Tree, No Pellets1652 Shilling Pine Tree, Large Planchet1652 Shilling Pine Tree, Large Planchet, Pellets1652 Shilling Pine Tree, Large Planchet, No Pellets1652 Shilling Pine Tree, Large Planchet, No H in Mass1652 Shilling Pine Tree, Large Planchet, N Reversed1652 Shilling Pine Tree, Monogrammed NE1652 Shilling Pine Tree, Small Planchet

Attribution and authenticity

Use denomination, tree family, planchet, legends, edge, and specialist Noe/Crosby-style die attribution together.

Issuer and production

Hand-cut dies, irregular planchets, and changing tree devices make production evidence visible on each coin.

Authenticity

Confirm weight, metal, edge, fabric, punch style, and several die markers; crude shape alone is neither proof nor disproof.

Grading

Judge wear separately from weak strike, clipping, planchet fissures, bends, tooling, and later surface alteration.

Rarity

Rarity changes sharply by denomination, tree family, die marriage, planchet quality, and problem status.

Provenance

Older collection records and a traceable chain of ownership materially strengthen attribution and authenticity review.

From one type coin to a complete catalog

  • One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
  • Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
  • Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.

Sources and image provenance

  1. Pine Tree Shilling, Massachusetts, 1652 — Smithsonian National Museum of American History
  2. National Numismatic Collection — Smithsonian National Museum of American History
  3. Massachusetts Silver Coins category reference — PCGS CoinFacts