1652 Oak Tree 6 Pence (1652 Oak Tree Sixpence) IN on obverse, Noe-22 PCGS MS63. Here is a lustrous, uncirculated Massachusetts Bay Colony oak tree sixpence dated 1652. The coin blank is oval shaped and the design is centered. The coin is mainly a medium grey with charcoal accents within some of the lettering and devices. The strike is extremely sharp. The outer circle of beads is nearly complete on the obverse and is about fifty percent complete on the reverse. The inner circle of beads is sharp and full as are the other elements of the design and legends. Two small depressions are seen to the right of VI on the reverse.

The coin shows some slight bending of the planchet, which is typical, and is a function of how they are made. The obverse of the coin shows a rather crude stick-figure drawing of a tree surrounded by a circle of beads. The inscription MASATHVSETS IN is around the coin with IN separated by dots. At the edge of the periphery is another circle of beads. The reverse of the coin shows the date 1652, with the denomination written as VI under it within a circle of beads. The inscription NEW ENGLAND ANO is around the coin with ANO separated by dots. At the periphery is another circle of beads.

Oak Tree Coins were issued from 1660 to 1667. Except for the two pence, all Oak Tree coins have the date of 1652 to create the impression that they were struck after the English Civil War when Cromwell was in power. Thus the colonists were not being disloyal to the King; they created the fiction that they were merely using left over coins from Commonwealth days. The two pence coins were dated 1662. In that year the King, who had been restored to the throne, was shown an Oak Tree shilling dated 1652. Rather than ordering reprisals for minting coins that was a prerogative of the crown, he took it in good humor calling the colonists a parcel of honest doggs.

The coins were made to the same weight and measurement standards of the Willow Tree and NE coinage that preceded them, but they were made better. Several theories exist as to how the coins were made. In one a rocker arm press was used with curved dies. The curved face allowed the die to rock back and forth. The image of the coin was engraved on the curved face of the rocker, one for each side of the coin. They would then be mounted face to face in the press and would press against each other using a rolling motion. Another theory suggests a roller press was used. One researcher feels that some Oak Tree coins were made on a standard screw press using octagonal prism shaped dies which were wedged in place to keep them from turning during the minting process. In any case, multiple striking that was characteristic of the earlier Willow Tree coins was avoided. Because die steel was not abundant, the dies in use had to be reground many times to remove cracks, clash marks, rust, and other imperfections. Many of the letters, numbers, and branches of the tree had to be re-engraved, some several times.

There is no documentation for placing the Oak Tree series second in order, but it does make logical sense to do so. First the design of the Oaks and Willows are similar, but the Willows are the cruder representation between the two. Second, both the Oaks and the Willows are inferior in execution to the Pine Tree coins. Third, the Oaks and Willows are similar in size to the NE series which preceded them. The larger planchets are those of the Pine Tree series. Finally the Oak Tree series is scarce and has a small number of varieties. Had it been last, it would have had a much more extensive mintage since coinage continued for another twenty years.

Shillings were struck in much greater quantity than the lower denominations. The Oak Tree sixpence coins were most likely made on an as needed basis. Most depositors would probably have preferred to receive shillings. Of course, a shilling could have been cut in half to make a sixpence, which was a common practice. Since the larger denomination coins were divided in this way, there was not a great need for lower denominations. Consequently, fewer sixpence, threepence, and twopence coins were made.

In 1662 the Generall Court, the Colonial authorizing body, ordered coinage of twopence pieces. These were to be dated 1662. They were to be made for no more than seven years. While there are no official mintage records, researchers feel that 5,000 to 10,000 coins could have been made.

In 1692 the Salem witch panic took place. Many coins are bent, which was a protection from witches. Some have teeth marks as a result of someone attempting to bend them. These coins were used to ward off witches spells.

Three different obverse dies and three reverse dies in six combinations were used for the Oak Tree coins. Sydney P. Noe in his book The Oak Tree Coinage of Massachusetts lists eight varieties, three of which are counterfeits and two of which are recuts. Noe started his numbering with the shillings and continued it through the series. The present coin is the IN on Obverse variety, Noe-22. It is identified by the corrected S on the obverse and the wide W, large L, and ANO on the reverse. This particular variety is especially interesting because it is a transition coin. The reverse die was used to strike a Pine Tree sixpence, which became Noe-32.

Authentication of Oak Tree coinage his highly recommended. (All USRCI coins are certified by one of the major grading services.) In the 1660s and 1670s Oak Tree coins were counterfeited and used in place of regular coinage. In 1848-1875 they were counterfeited and made to sell to collectors.

All Oak Tree coinage is extremely rare in all grades. In their population reports both major grading services have certified 108 two pence coins, 26 three pence coins, 42 sixpence coins, and 185 shillings, and these numbers do not account for resubmissions and crossovers.

Most Oak Tree coinage is circulated and at best grades Extremely Fine. This mint state 63 coin is the finest certified by PCGS. It is tied with two in similar condition that have been certified by NGC.