1652 SHILNG Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet MS64 NGC....

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Choice 1652 Large Planchet Pine Tree Shilling
Rare Late Die State of Noe-4

1652 SHILNG Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet MS64 NGC. Crosby 5-B1, Noe-4, R.4. 66.4 gns. Reversed first N in ENGLAND. Noe-4, Noe-5, and Noe-6 were produced from the same pair of dies. The tree is slightly recut for Noe-6, and Noe-5 is identified by an egg-shaped O in DOM. An intermediate die state, Noe-4.5, was implemented by Walter Breen and adopted by Richard Picker. It is characterized by an open left (facing) side to the O in DOM.
On the present piece, the reverse die shows crumbling, primarily left of the X in the denomination and from the beaded circle to the M in DOM. This crumbling is usual for a Noe-4. However, bold parallel die lines pass through much of the OM in DOM. These die lines are absent on Ford:83, Ford:84, and Ford:86, and are faintly present on Ford:85, which was a Noe-4.5. Apparently, the die lines were caused by minor damage to the die.
A mint worker lapped the reverse die in this region to weaken the lines, and inadvertently caused the open O of Noe-4.5. After a number of pieces were struck, he lapped the die again to remove all signs of the die lines. This action removed portions of the OM. The worker then re-engraved the O, as well as the bases of the neighboring M, to create Noe-5. Undoubtedly, this unknown Boston Mint coiner never imagined that centuries later, collectors would attempt to own examples of all three major reverse die states, Noe-4, Noe-4.5, and Noe-5. The present piece could be called Noe-4.3, since it represents the rare transitional state with die lines and the O in DOM of Noe-4.
This is a lustrous and original near-Gem that displays consistent blended golden-brown and gunmetal-blue toning. The flan has an S-wave characteristic of its coinage from a rocker press. Mint-made clips at 4, 6, and 9 o'clock bring the weight within standards. Most peripheral letters are intact aside from those near 9 o'clock on the reverse. A loupe fails to locate even trivial marks or spots. Simply an outstanding example of the famous Large Planchet Pine Tree shilling. Listed on page 37 of the 2008 Guide Book. NGC N Reversed Census: 1 in 64, 1 finer (3/08).

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 23, Greysheet# 9)

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