1652 Shilling Pine Tree - Large Planchet

Coin Details

Description

The Pine Tree shilling on the large planchet represents the earlier phase of the third and final tree design in the Massachusetts Bay Colony silver series, struck circa 1667 to 1675 at the Hull Mint in Boston. The Pine Tree design replaced the Oak Tree motif and would continue in production until the mint's closure around 1682, making it the longest-running and most prolific of the three tree types. The obverse features a stylized pine tree with a straight central trunk and symmetrical branches, encircled by MASATHVSETS IN. The reverse displays XII (twelve pence) within a beaded inner circle, surrounded by NEW ENGLAND AN DOM 1652. The large planchet format measures approximately 27 to 29 millimeters in diameter, comparable to the earlier Oak Tree shillings, and was struck on sterling silver blanks targeting 72 grains (4.67 grams). The pine tree was chosen as a symbol of New England's vast forests, which were among the colony's most important economic resources. Pine masts were critical to English naval construction, and the broad arrow mark placed on the tallest pines (reserved for the Royal Navy) was a persistent source of friction between colonists and the Crown. Whether the pine tree on the coinage was intended as a subtle assertion of colonial autonomy or simply a convenient regional symbol remains debated among historians. The large planchet Pine Tree shilling is more available than any Willow or Oak Tree type, but it remains genuinely rare. Its larger size compared to the later small planchet version allowed for more complete legend impressions and more detailed tree depictions, making it generally preferred by collectors seeking well-struck, visually appealing examples.

Rarity Notes

Rare but the most available of the large planchet Massachusetts colonial types. Multiple die varieties known, some considerably scarcer than others.

Cross References

Noe 1-16; Salmon; Whitman 390-430; Crosby