1652 Shilling Pine Tree - Monogrammed NE

Coin Details

Description

A distinctive die variety of the Pine Tree shilling featuring a monogrammed or interlocked "NE" (New England) in the design. This variety is remarkable because it echoes the NE punch mark that appeared on the very first Massachusetts Bay Colony silver coins — the NE shillings, sixpences, and threepences of 1652. The incorporation of a monogrammed NE into a Pine Tree die represents a deliberate reference to the colony's coinage origins, creating a visual link between the first and last design series produced at the Hull Mint. The obverse displays the pine tree with the MASATHVSETS IN legend and the monogrammed NE element, while the reverse carries XII within the beaded circle and NEW ENGLAND AN DOM 1652. The exact placement and form of the NE monogram varies by die state and should be confirmed against the Noe-Salmon catalog for precise attribution. The NE monogram is one of the most intriguing features found on any Massachusetts colonial coin because it raises questions about intentional artistic or political messaging within what was ostensibly a utilitarian medium of exchange. The die sinker added the monogram as a personal touch, a nod to tradition, or at the direction of the mintmaster. Without documentary evidence, the specific motivation cannot be determined, but the monogram's presence transforms this variety from a routine die identification exercise into a window on the cultural dimensions of colonial minting. This variety is sought after by collectors for its unusual design element and its connection to the earliest chapter of American coinage. As with all Pine Tree shillings, it was struck in sterling silver on a hand-cut planchet and bears the permanent 1652 date.

Rarity Notes

Rare and highly sought after. The monogrammed NE is one of the most distinctive and historically evocative Pine Tree shilling varieties.

Cross References

Noe (consult Salmon revision); Crosby