1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-13.3, Salmon 10-G, W-520. Rarity-6. IN at Bottom, Spiny Tree Variant. Extremely Fine, Sea Salvaged.

45.37 grains. A coin with very little actual wear, detail is sharp in mostly all areas with the overall design fully appreciable. Significant softness is confined to the central obverse, due to die state, and along the lower obverse border, where the tops of the letters are off the flan due to imperfect centering. The planchet is only a bit of out round, a bit wavy through lower central obverse and above and below center on the reverse. The surfaces are dark and granular with charcoal-gray color from long-term exposure to sea water, but given that the challenging Noe-13.3 Oak Tree die state typically comes in low grades, this generally sharp example is worthy of note. This is also an exciting coin due to having been salvaged from the wreck of H.B.M.S. Feversham, which sank in a storm off Nova Scotia in 1711. The ship had requisitioned £569 12s. 5d., sterling, from the New York Victualling Office of the British Treasury before sailing from New York City to assist a British fleet in an attack on the French in Quebec. Found and salvaged in 1984, the Feversham treasure contained £33 13s., in silver coins. With 504 pieces included therein, Spanish colonial silver made up by far the majority of Feversham's cargo in coins. Massachusetts Bay Colony silver numbered 126 examples, with the balance of the treasure comprising trifling numbers of Dutch (22), English (8) and European Spanish (5) coins. The salvage of this important treasure provided an important glimpse into both the widespread commercial success enjoyed by Massachusetts Bay Colony silver well into the 18th century, and also the diversity of world coins used in colonial America.

PCGS# 45362. NGC ID: 2ARL.

Salvaged from the wreck of H.B.M.S. Feversham, sunk October 7-8, 1711, off the coast of Scatari Island, Nova Scotia.

Estimate: $1200