1652 6PENCE Willow Tree Sixpence MS64 PCGS. 36.2 grains. Ex: Ford. Noe 1-A, Cr. 7, W.6, High R.6. The use of a rocker press...

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Amazing MS64 Willow Tree Sixpence, The Finest Known of all Willow Tree Coins

1652 6PENCE Willow Tree Sixpence MS64 PCGS. 36.2 grains. Ex: Ford. Noe 1-A, Cr. 7, W.6, High R.6. The use of a rocker press was largely an experimental process and the development of the sixpence and threepence coins were the successful culmination of that process. Earlier die states of the shillings show evidence of multiple passes through the press, and thus multiple impressions are usually seen. This was largely eliminated by the time the third set of dies were struck for the shillings. One theory is that the sixpence and threepence coins were easier to strike than the larger shillings. However, it seems to us that it is more likely that the smaller denominations were struck after the shillings and the practice from the larger coins resulted in better produced lower-valued pieces. But this leads to a certain controversy among the Willow Tree sixpence and threepence pieces.
Examination of the plates in Hain and Ford leads one to the above conclusion, i.e., the lower denomination coins were better produced than the shillings. However, Sidney Noe did not share this view. On page 39 of his 1943 The New England and Willow Tree Coinages of Massachusetts, he states: "Contrary to what we should expect, the smaller flans for these denominations do not seem to have made their striking any freer from the defects of the shillings." Clearly, either Noe had not examined many of the lower denomination pieces, or his expectations were unrealistically high for such coins. One observation of Noe's that does seem to have held the test of time was "That so few of these Willow Tree coins have survived is to be explained by the operation of one phase of Gresham's Law 'In every country where two kinds of legal money are in circulation, the bad money always drives out the good.' " While this statement is contrary to what actually happened with the coins from the Massachusetts Mint, with the NE and Willow Tree coins driving out the numerous counterfeits that were current in Massachusetts prior to 1652, Noe is here speaking strictly from the point of view of a collector: "At first glance, this seems paradoxical. But it is the ugly Willow Tree pieces which have come down to us that are worn so badly that sometimes we can barely make out their design. These were put back into circulation. The really well-preserved pieces in our cabinets are either Oak or Pine Tree varieties, and some, at least, come from hoarded savings, for which savings they were preferred because they offered better security than the worn Willow Tree coins." When one understands the lack of detail and low grade of most Willow Tree coins, it is much easier to understand the specialness of this particular piece.
This is the finest Willow Tree coin known of any of the three denominations. The striking details are remarkably strong on each side, quite different from the previous shilling series, and it would be easier to list the areas of weakness on this piece than the areas that show as on most of the shillings. The only part of the legends that is actually missing on this piece is the 2 in the date. The 5 is weak as is the A SE in MASATHSETS. Otherwise, the legends are strong and fully readable (including the tree), and the planchet is nearly round. The surfaces are a lovely medium gray with slightly deeper accents around the margins. One of only 13 or so sixpences known and an extremely rare opportunity to acquire this major Colonial.
Ex: W.S. Lincoln Collection, London, 1935, No. 148; Carl Wurtzbach, 1938; Ford XII (Stack's, 10/05), lot 10. Also used as the Noe plate coin and Wurtzbach plate coin.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 2ARB, PCGS# 15, Greysheet# 4)

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