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Auction 422 | Lot 705 » Colonials

1652 SHILNG Willow Tree Shilling AU58 PCGS. Noe 2-B. 71.0 grains. Willow Tree coinage can best be understood in the context of the times and also in the context of New England coins from the NE series through the Pine Tree series. In 1652 Massachusetts was sparsely settled and the colony was governed by Puritan magistrates who essentially had the powers and rights that allowed them to rule as the king's agents. However, the colony's charter did not allow the magistrates the authority to coin their own money. The topic of why the Boston Mint came into being in 1652 in spite of this lack of authority is discussed in depth in the forward to the Hain catalog (Stack's, 1/2002). To summarize Michael Hodder's persuasive answer to this question is to essentially reduce it to three main points. The first answer was economic in nature. The colony was flooded with counterfeit coinage, and good coinage was needed to drive out the bad. However, the need for coinage does not in itself make the production of coins legal. The Boston Mint was established to provide genuine coins for the colony, but they were different in two important ways from coins produced in England: They were to be lighter and of lower fineness than their English equivalents, thus ensuring that they would not circulate outside Massachusetts. This was a good theory, but in practice it did not work and large numbers of NE coins left the colony. Sydney Noe pointed out a second reason for this series of coinage in his 1943-1952 references. Oliver Cromwell overthrew and executed Charles I in 1649, and the royalist forces of Charles II were defeated in September 1651. It was Noe's belief (not backed by solid historic research) that Protestant Oliver Cromwell was secretly supportive of the Protestant colonists. While Noe's contention is not based on archival documentation, it nevertheless "did make things easier for the Massachusetts Puritans, if only by removing from power a symbol of all they hated," as Hodder points out. The third hi (PCGS# 16)

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Auction 422 | Lot 708 » Colonials

1652 SHILNG Oak Tree Shilling AU53 PCGS. Noe-11, Crosby 6b-E2, R.6. A remarkable example of Noe-11, superior to any of three Boyd/Ford specimens in both sharpness and overall quality. In its appearance in the Hain Family auction, the present piece was described as "One of the Finest Seen", and "far finer than Norweb:1168, Oechsner:933, NN 60th:196." The top of the 1 in the date is soft, perhaps due to a mint strike-through, but the remainder of this battleship-gray example is satiny and smooth. Minor straight mint-made clips affect only the top of IN, with the rest of the legends intact. Thin horizontal lines across the upper portion of the tree are from the die, and are characteristic of Noe-11. Listed on page 37 of the 2007 Guide Book.
Ex: Spink & Son (London); Vlack Collection; Hain Family Collection (Stack's, 1/02), lot 37.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 20)

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Auction 422 | Lot 717 » Colonials

1652 SHILNG Pine Tree Shilling, Small Planchet AU53 PCGS. Noe-29, Crosby 14-R, R.3. Noe-29 is identified by the D in ENGLAND, which was accidentally entered backwards, then corrected. The M is also broadly recut. This pleasantly unmarked piece features rich and consistent dove-gray toning. A few letters on the left obverse and right reverse border are softly defined, as made since the planchet was thin in this area upon its strike. The tree, beads, denomination, date, and the majority of the peripheral letters are bold. Although PCGS has neglected a weight, this piece must have been within Boston Mint standards, since there are no clips, and the shape is nearly round. The reverse is well centered, and the obverse is misaligned a few degrees toward 12 o'clock, similar to Hain:160. Listed on page 37 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 24)

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Auction 422 | Lot 718 » Colonials

(1659) 6PENCE Lord Baltimore Sixpence XF45 PCGS. Breen-68, Crosby Pl. III, 2. A lovely slate-gray example with dashes of russet across protected areas of the peripheral legends. The portrait is richly detailed, unlike many pieces seen with an indifferent strike on Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. Although a couple of degrees off center toward 9 o'clock, the legends are fully intact. Careful evaluation beneath a loupe fails to locate distracting marks.

The Maryland fourpence, sixpence, and shilling were contemporaneous with the silver coinage in the nearby Massachusetts colony, but are much more rare, since the Maryland pieces were struck only briefly. These were produced at the Royal Mint in London, and exported to Maryland. Listed on page 38 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 33)

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Auction 422 | Lot 34 » Colonials

(1670-75) FARTH St. Patrick Farthing VF20 PCGS. Griffee 83-2/0a. A die break through the O in FLOREAT identifies the variety. The obverse die is sinking in the center. What appear to be a pair of small 8s are present beneath the king. This medium brown example has clear types and legends, and the fields are only faintly granular. A brass splasher overlaps most of the crown, and a pair of small brass elements are struck in beneath the king's head.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 42)

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Auction 422 | Lot 38 » Colonials

(1670-75) 1/2P St. Patrick Halfpenny VF35 PCGS. Vlack 1-B. Breen-200. A nicely detailed halfpenny that has clear types and refreshingly smooth walnut-brown surfaces. Only a whisper of verdigris is detected on the right obverse. St. Patrick halfpennies are collectible, but generally found in VG or lower grades. Listed on page 39 of the 2007 Guide Book. Population: 8 in 35, 1 finer (8/06).
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 46)

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Auction 422 | Lot 42 » Colonials

(1688) TOKEN American Plantations Token AU58 PCGS. Newman 4-E. Breen-78. Head midway between G and B, which Breen designates as a circa 1828 restrike variety. As made from rusted dies. A bold piece whose sole flaw is a gray spot that affects the E in REAL. Listed on page 39 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 52)

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Auction 422 | Lot 44 » Colonials

(1694) TOKEN London Elephant Token, Thick Planchet MS64 Brown PCGS. Breen-186, Hodder 2-B, Betts-81. Elephant tokens from these dies make regular appearances in Heritage Signature auctions, but rarely in similar quality. Glowing orange-gold outlines design elements, and low relief die striations on the shield and pachyderm emerge when the piece is viewed beneath a loupe. A small spot is found at 3 o'clock, and a couple of inconsequential planchet flaws (as made) are located within the shield. Listed on page 44 of the 2007 Guide Book. Population: 4 in 64 Brown, 0 finer (8/06).
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 55)

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Auction 422 | Lot 51 » Colonials

1722 PENNY Rosa Americana Penny, UTILE MS63 Brown PCGS. Breen-114. No rosettes in reverse legend. This remarkably smooth Rosa Americana penny has lovely and consistent olive-brown toning. The obverse is double struck with a slight clockwise shift between strikes. The reverse is fully struck with no evidence of doubling. Presumably, the reverse (anvil) die remained fixed while the obverse (hammer) die rotated minutely before the second blow. Listed on page 40 of the 2007 Guide Book. Population: 4 in 63, 0 finer (8/06).
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 113)

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Auction 422 | Lot 67 » Colonials

1723 1/2P Hibernia Halfpenny MS64 Red PCGS. Breen-157. Small 3, no pellet before H. Some might consider this piece to be a "Beaded Cincture" variety, since there are at least six pellets on the waist, although most of these are minuscule. Substantial orange-red illuminates the hair and legends. The fields are medium brown, despite the PCGS designation. A boldly struck and impressively unperturbed near-Gem. Listed on page 43 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 182)

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Auction 422 | Lot 103 » Colonials

1760 1/2P Hibernia-Voce Populi Halfpenny AU55 PCGS. Z. 6-C, N.9. A golden-brown example of the "Stern Bust" variety. Faint friction on the cheek and thigh prevents a higher grade, but the surfaces are smooth and attractive. Struck from clashed and rotated dies. Listed on page 47 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 262)

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Auction 422 | Lot 104 » Colonials

1760 1/2P Hibernia-Voce Populi Halfpenny MS62 Brown PCGS. Z. 6-C, N.9. A satiny and unabraded Voce Populi with original ebony and golden-brown toning. Although the device highpoints lack pinpoint sharpness, and the reverse is slightly misaligned toward 8 o'clock, the technical quality of the present piece is undisputable. Listed on page 47 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 262)

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Auction 422 | Lot 726 » Colonials

1737 COPPER Higley Copper, CONNECTICVT VF25 PCGS. Crosby-18, Breen-238, Freidus 1.2-A. 130.4 grains. The CONNECTICVT is the first Higley variety, struck before presumed local complaints compelled the change in the obverse legend, from THE VALVE OF THREE PENCE to VALVE ME AS YOU PLEASE. The reverse legend changed as well on later varieties, from CONNECTICVT to I AM GOOD COPPER, and finally to J CUT MY WAY THROUGH. The latter variety bore an ax instead of the three hammers. Dr. Samuel Higley had a degree from Yale, and owned a copper mine. Coinage apparently continued after Higley's untimely death in a 1737 shipwreck, since a 1739-dated variety is known. The present example is boldly detailed for a Higley copper. Except for THE, the obverse legends are clear. The deer and hammers have pleasing definition, and the reverse legends are bold aside from the bottom of the 737 in the date. The surfaces are moderately granular, as Higleys are typically encountered, and the color alternates from golden-brown to ebony. A pair of old curved pinscratches reach the deer's antlers. Listed on page 46 of the 2007 Guide Book.
Ex: F.C.C. Boyd; John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part II (Stack's, 5/04), lot 268; San Francisco ANA (Heritage, 7/05), lot 10078.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 201)

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Auction 422 | Lot 71 » Colonials

1670-A 5SOL French Colonies 5 Sols MS62 PCGS. Breen-256. Breen (1988) classified this issue under "coinages intended for French America." Well struck in the centers, unlike other pieces seen. A satiny dove-gray example that offers glimpses of russet and cobalt-gray peripheral toning. Listed on page 50 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 158627)

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Auction 422 | Lot 73 » Colonials

1711-D 30DEN French Colonies 30 Deniers AU55 PCGS. Vlack-3, R.2. Breen-284. Problem-free aside from a hint of striking softness on occasional portions of the margins. Ample silvering remains. Listed on page 51 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 158686)

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Auction 422 | Lot 74 » Colonials

1712-AA 15DEN French Colonies 15 Deniers MS61 PCGS. Breen-294. Vlack-13, R.4. Luster glimmers from this powder-blue and almond-gold billon piece. Minor strike doubling slightly blurs the designs, and the left borders retain some planchet roughness. Listed on page 51 of the 2007 Guide Book. Population: 1 in 61, 0 finer (8/06).
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 158628)

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Auction 422 | Lot 86 » Colonials

1720-A French Colonies Livre d'argent fin, 1/6 ecu AU58 PCGS. Gaudoury-296. An evenly struck and pleasing representative with ample glowing luster. The fields have toned dove-gray and exhibit faint marks. The 1720 date is associated with John Law's Louisiana land speculation, and his control of the French mints. Listed on page 50 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 1001754)

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Auction 422 | Lot 87 » Colonials

1720-A French Colonies Livre d'argent fin, 1/6 ecu MS64 PCGS. Young Bust right/Crowned Back-to-back L's, Gad-296, KM-453. PCGS has incorrectly designated this piece as a 20 sols. This intricately struck and satiny near-Gem has a nearly imperceptible mark on the king's cheek, but is otherwise exemplary. In 1720, John Law was in control of the French mints, which played a major role in his ill-fated Louisiana territory land scheme. Listed on page 50 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 1001754)

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Auction 422 | Lot 75 » Colonials

1722-H 9DEN French Colonies Copper Sou XF40 PCGS. Breen-263. A dull vertical line within the final 2 suggests a 1722/1 overdate, but die crumbling makes the attribution only tentative. A lovely chocolate-brown representative, struck slightly off center toward 3 o'clock with softness seen near the right border. Listed on page 51 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 158629)

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Auction 422 | Lot 78 » Colonials

1740-BB 1/2 SOU M French Colonies Half Sou Marque MS61 PCGS. Breen-690. A variant Vlack-325 with no stop after the rowel and a crude, thick appearance to the 1 in the date. Rich pearl-gray centers with peripheral apricot patina on the reverse. The obverse is slightly misaligned toward 7:30, although all legends are intact. Listed on page 51 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 158600)

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Auction 422 | Lot 727 » Colonials

1762-BB SOU M French Colonies Sou Marque MS64 PCGS. Breen-634. Vlack-276. Struck near the end of the billon Sou Marque series, which was produced between 1738 and 1764. The BB mintmark is Strasbourg, and the rowel symbol represents Chief Engraver Jean II Guerin. The heart symbolizes Strasbourg Mint Director Jean Louis Begerle. This gently shimmering example is pearl-gray with faint olive tints. The centering is unimprovable, and the strike is generally crisp, although a few peripheral letters are slightly soft. Refreshingly smooth, and undisturbed by contact. The present piece is the single finest PCGS-certified by two grades. Listed on page 51 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 158657)

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Auction 422 | Lot 88 » Colonials

1767-A 9DEN French Colonies Copper Sou AU55 PCGS. Breen-700. No RF counterstamp. A lovely and unblemished chocolate-brown piece that lacks the usually encountered deep central counterstamp. Substantial mint gloss remains, but a trace of wear is noted on the crossed scepters. Slight incompleteness of strike is detected on the fleur de lis trio, and a couple of trivial roller marks are seen at 1:30 on the obverse. Listed on page 51 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 158651)

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Auction 422 | Lot 89 » Colonials

1767-A 9DEN French Colonies Copper Sou, RF Counterstamp AU58 PCGS. Breen-701. The majority of surviving 1767-A sous were counterstamped circa 1793 for circulation in the West Indies. The RF counterstamp, as usual, is deeply impressed beneath the crown, and flattens the A mintmark on the central obverse. This glossy piece probably never entered circulation, although a hint of friction on the wreath confirms brief non-numismatic handling. Listed on page 51 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 158637)

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Auction 422 | Lot 93 » Colonials

1766 1/2P Pitt Halfpenny AU55 PCGS. Breen-251. This chocolate-brown Pitt token has slightly deeper mahogany toning on the central reverse. A few thin, light field marks are only visible when viewed beneath a strong lens. The "Great Commoner" Sir William Pitt was hailed in America for his success in repealing the hated Stamp Act. Listed on page 48 of the 2007 Guide Book. Population: 10 in 55, 11 finer (8/06).
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 236)

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Auction 422 | Lot 98 » Colonials

1773 1/2P Virginia Halfpenny, Period MS64 Red PCGS. Seven harp strings. Newman 23-R. The mildly prooflike fields are pleasantly unabraded. A splendid salmon-pink near-Gem that lacks the detrimental spots generally encountered on Uncirculated examples. Only a hint of toning on the cheekbone and the center of the shield denies an even finer grade. Listed on page 43 of the 2007 Guide Book.
From The Troy Wiseman Collection, Part Two. (PCGS# 242)

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