1652 Shilling Oak Tree - Ghost

Coin Details

Description

A fascinating die variety of the Oak Tree shilling exhibiting ghosting or shadowing effects, where traces of an earlier design impression appear beneath the primary struck image. Ghost impressions on colonial coins result from several causes: a coin struck twice with slight die shift, a planchet that received an impression from a previously struck coin placed atop it in the press, or a die showing evidence of recutting or re-engraving that creates shadow lines visible on the finished product. The obverse displays the standard broad oak tree surrounded by MASATHVSETS IN, while the reverse carries the XII denomination and NEW ENGLAND AN DOM 1652. The ghosting effect adds an additional layer of visual complexity to an already individually crafted coin, and its presence provides evidence about the minting process at the Hull Mint. Massachusetts colonial coinage was produced using relatively primitive technology. Planchets were hand-cut from hammered silver sheet, and striking was accomplished with a simple screw press or hammer blow. Under these conditions, double impressions and other striking anomalies occurred with some regularity, though not all such pieces have survived to the present day or been recognized by subsequent owners as distinct varieties. The ghost variety is of particular interest to die study researchers because it provides physical evidence of the striking process and press operation at the Boston mint. Unlike modern minting, where automated feeding mechanisms prevent double strikes, the manual handling of planchets in the seventeenth century made such occurrences an inevitable byproduct of production. Collectors prize this variety for its dramatic visual appearance and the window it opens into colonial minting technology.

Rarity Notes

Rare variety. Ghost impressions add both visual interest and numismatic significance, making this a particularly sought-after Oak Tree shilling variety.

Cross References

Noe (consult Salmon revision for specific attribution); Crosby