1662 MASSACHUSETTS "OAK TREE"
TWOPENCE - NOE 29
Rarity: Very Rare
Variety equivalents: Breen 35
Notes:
In the 2002 Hain Family catalogue, Michael Hodder claimed knowledge of
seven specimens of this variety.
All Oak Tree Twopence were struck from the same pair of dies, with
various degrees of die wear and subsequent recutting. Varieties are
differentiated best by using the reverse
dies (see below).
The obverse die of this
variety was also used on:
Oak Tree Noe 30
Oak Tree Noe 31
Oak Tree Noe 32
Oak Tree Noe 33
Oak Tree Noe 34
The reverse die of this
variety was also used on:
Oak Tree Noe 30 (base of 2 points to bead, break connects 2 to bead,
re-engraved first 6 in date, a die break develops, eventually connecting
the top of the 2 with the 6)
Oak Tree Noe 31 (base of 2 points to bead, break connects 2 to bead,
re-engraved first 6 in date, a die break connects the top of the 2 with
the 6, then extends in the other direction through the bead to the A,
second 6 eventually loses its lower left side)
Oak Tree Noe 32 (base of 2 points between beads, eventually with a
diagonal break from W to I of the date)
Oak Tree Noe 33 (base of 2 points between beads)
Oak Tree Noe 34 (base of 2 points between beads)
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Images courtesy of Stack's
Significant examples:
"Choice About
Uncirculated" (illustrated above). Ex - Sylvester
S. Crosby Collection (Haseltine, June 27, 1883, lot 876), there called
"Uncirculated. Extremely Rare, sold for $11.50 - T. Harrison Garrett
- Garrett Collection (Bowers & Ruddy, October 1, 1980, lot 1212) - Ken Goldman on August 10, 1988
- Stack's "Hain Family Collection of Massachusetts Silver
Coins", January 15, 2002, Lot 75, illustrated, "...10.9
grains...", sold for $14,950.00
This example was plated in Crosby's "Early Coins of America" and
was Coin #72 at the 1991 American Numismatic Society Exhibition.
Norweb:
1185
PCGS AU-53
(illustrated below). Ex - Carmel Stamp & Coin Company on June 2, 1989
-
Stack's "Hain Family Collection of Massachusetts Silver Coins",
January 15, 2002, Lot 76, illustrated, "...Extremely Fine...11.8 grains...", sold
for $7,475.00 - Superior Galleries New York ANA Sale, August 1-3,
2002, Lot 2, illustrated, "...12.3 grains..., sold for $6,325.00
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
Sydney P. Noe, "The Silver Coinage of
Massachusetts"
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