1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-1, Salmon 1-A, W-430. Rarity-3. IN at Left. AU-53 (PCGS).

72.6 grains. A richly original example toned in a blend of deep steel-gray and lighter antique golden-copper. The colors have an iridescent quality that yields to steel-blue and gold undertones and allows ready appreciation of a frosty texture as the surfaces dip into a light. Obverse impression aligned to lower left, upper border through the letters MASA. The peripheral legend is fully legible, nonetheless, and the tree at center is full, crisp and encircled by a nearly complete inner border. The reverse is aligned to lower right with a thin lip of virgin planchet in that area. Left border into the top of the letter D in DOM, legend otherwise essentially complete, gentle undulation in the planchet explains the minor softness at upper right center, where the top of the digit 2 is weak. The flan is a bit out of round, but charmingly so, and the well composed surfaces are smooth in hand with only faint grazes visible under magnification at upper right obverse and reverse. The Noe-1 Oak Tree shilling is a popular choice as a type coin: relatively common, even in high grades; typically complete in design and bold in strike; showcasing one of the more classically oaken design motifs; coined from dies that created an attractive and easily understood product; and historically significant as "apparently the earliest rocker press variety" in this series (per Christopher J. Salmon, 2010). While it is not unusual for a top caliber cabinet to include a high grade Noe-1 Oak, it is surely a hallmark of a world class early American collection to include one this nice. Worthy of a strong premium.

PCGS# 45361. NGC ID: 2ARK.