1652 Massachusetts, Pine Tree Shilling, No Pellets at Trunk, Large Planchet, Ex. John J. Ford Collection, NGC MS63.

More than a century before our forefather’s gave birth to the greatest democracy the planet has ever known, this piece was struck and issued by the Massachusetts Bay Colony for commerce by the English subjects residing there. Actually issued between 1667 and 1682, the fact that it has survived through revolution, civil war, world wars, the Great Depression, and 350+ years of American history in this lofty level of preservation is nothing short of astonishing.

Formerly a part of the prestigious John J. Ford Collection, this delightful specimen displays remarkably clean surfaces awash in rich tones. It is absent of major distracting marks save for one minute dig in the planchet among the tree branches on the reverse. A firm and thorough strike gave birth to excellent detail even seen in the root structure of the tree. The centering of the devices is exemplary.

Numismatics is a field prone to hyperbole but this is not the case with the offering presented here. To pursue colonial issues of this quality is an arduous task to say the least and best tackled by only the most advanced numismatist for an elite collection. To be able to acquire and place a pristine museum quality example such as this in a private collection must be seen as nothing short of remarkable good fortune and an opportunity to be seized upon.