Owner Comments:
Pictured above, is a 1652 Massachusetts Pine Tree Six Pence, graded AU 53 by PCGS, and variously categorized as Noe-33, Crosby 1-A, Salmon 2-B, and W-670. This piece was once in the collection of physician and author Peter Jones, and is pictured on p. 167 of his book, Colonial History In Your Hands.
The Pine Tree series was produced by mint-master John Hull and his partner Robert Sanderson in the period from approximately 1667 to 1682.
Owing to misaligned dies, the Noe-33 Six Pence variety is characterized by a substantial portion of the obverse inscription lettering (Masathvsets) extending off the flan at 12 o'clock. The rest of the obverse exhibits bold definition of all design elements that are present on the planchet. A pellet is featured on either side of the Pine Tree trunk, and there is no cross-hatching at the base of the tree.
The reverse of the coin is nearly perfectly centered, another characteristic of this variety. There is a very wide spacing between the "V" and "I". The lower portion of the planchet displays a somewhat wavy appearance, typical of rocker press emissions. The Noe-33 is the only collectible of the Pine Tree Six Pence, with approximately 200 - 400 extant.
Of the other two Pine Tree Six Pence varieties, the Noe 33a is very similar to Noe 33, except that it is characterized by better centering of the obverse elements. Noe 32 is exceedingly rare. Its obverse's spiny tree is distinctly different from the common Pine Tree Six Pence, with almost straight branches covered with sharp spines, and with cross-hatching at the tree's base. There are no pellets adjacent to the tree trunk on this variety. The reverse shares the same design as used on larger Oak Tree pieces, and hence the Six Pence planchets were insufficiently large to accommodate all the legend lettering. This is the only instance of a die linkage between two different tree types. Less than 30 examples of Noe 32 exist in all grades.