"1652" Shilling Pine Tree - Copper Elder Fantasy Noe-Y

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,440 MS63BN 08-23-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

A copper fantasy shilling in the Massachusetts Pine Tree design, created by Elder and designated Noe-Y in the standard reference. Elder was a numismatic figure associated with the production of fantasy and imitation pieces during the 19th century. The Noe-Y designation places this piece within the comprehensive catalog of Massachusetts silver coinage and its derivatives. The Elder fantasy shilling borrows the Pine Tree Shilling's iconic design — the pine tree obverse with MASATHVSETS IN legend and the "XII" reverse within a double ring — but renders it in copper rather than the original silver. The fantasy designation indicates that this piece is not a faithful copy of any specific Pine Tree die marriage but rather a creative interpretation that captures the general spirit of the series. Fantasy pieces like Elder's copper shilling were part of a broader 19th-century tradition of numismatic creativity. Coin collectors of the era appreciated novel interpretations of historic designs alongside more faithful reproductions. Elder's copper composition made the piece affordable and clearly distinguishable from genuine silver Pine Tree Shillings. The Noe-Y copper Elder fantasy is collected by specialists in Massachusetts colonial coinage who seek to document all known die products associated with the series, whether genuine, copy, or fantasy. It represents an interesting chapter in the long numismatic afterlife of the Pine Tree Shilling design.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Elder fantasy pieces in the Pine Tree series are uncommon and appeal to advanced colonial specialists.

Cross References

Noe-Y (Elder fantasy); Noe reference: Massachusetts Silver Coinage; Original: Pine Tree Shilling 1652 (1667-1682)