1652 Shilling Oak Tree - ANDO

Coin Details

Description

A distinctive die variety of the Oak Tree shilling characterized by the reverse legend reading ANDO instead of the standard AN DO (with a space between AN and DO). The reverse inscription NEW ENGLAND ANDO 1652 represents a die sinker's error or deliberate abbreviation in which the letters were placed without the expected word break between "AN" and "DO" (abbreviations of the Latin ANNO DOMINI, meaning "in the year of our Lord"). The obverse carries the standard oak tree design with MASATHVSETS IN around the periphery. The tree shows the typical broad-crowned form with clearly delineated branches characteristic of the Oak Tree period, which saw a marked improvement in die quality over the preceding Willow Tree coinage. The reverse denomination XII appears within the central beaded circle. Legend errors and spelling irregularities are a hallmark of Massachusetts colonial silver, where each die was individually prepared by craftsmen working without standardized templates. The ANDO variety is particularly notable because it represents a deviation in the formulaic Latin dating phrase that appears on every reverse die in the series. Whether this joining of letters was intentional — to save space — or an oversight cannot be determined from the coins alone, but it creates a readily identifiable diagnostic for variety attribution. This variety holds special interest for colonial series specialists who catalog the full range of die combinations produced at the Hull Mint. The ANDO reverse die was paired with multiple obverse dies during its working life, and tracking these pairings contributes to understanding the sequence and volume of Oak Tree coinage production.

Rarity Notes

Rare die variety. The ANDO legend error makes this one of the more readily identifiable Oak Tree shilling varieties.

Cross References

Noe 5; Salmon; Crosby