1652 Pine Tree Sixpence, Pellets at Trunk, Noe-33a, W-670, Salmon 2*-B, R.5, MS64 NGC. CAC....
Description
1652 Pine Tree Sixpence, MS64 CAC
Finest Known Noe-33a
1652 Pine Tree Sixpence, Pellets at Trunk, Noe-33a, W-670,
Salmon 2*-B, R.5, MS64 NGC. CAC. 33.4 grains. Luster rolls
across this evenly struck and unabraded near-Gem that ranks as the
finest known Noe-33a sixpence. The borders are deep sea-green, and
traces of mahogany-red outline the central elements. The reverse
appears slightly misaligned toward 7 o'clock. Mint clips affect the
tops of several peripheral letters, as made and customary for the
series, certainly for weight adjustment. The die state is early,
since the vertical break left of the 6 is spindly except near its
base. Mildly wavy, as issued, due to the nature of rocker press
coinage.Two varieties of Pine Tree Sixpence are known, which have different obverse and reverse dies. Both were produced before the changeover from thin, broad planchets to thicker, smaller planchets that occurred on the Shilling denomination around 1675 to prolong die life. The first Sixpence die marriage is Noe-32, which has the unique distinction of containing the only die used on two different tree types, as the reverse was also used on the Noe-20 through 22 Pine Tree sixpence. The other is the Noe-33. The Noe-33a variant is offered here, which is properly centered, compared to the off-center Noe-33 with the obverse die shifted north, leaving a substantial bottom margin. However, by that time a majority of the variety had already been produced. While Salmon lists the Noe-33 and 33a separately as Salmon 2-B and 2*-B, as does Noe, the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins by Q. David Bowers lists both under W-670. Listed on page 9 of the 2026 Guide Book.
Ex: Jon Hanson; Donald Groves Partrick Collection / FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2015), lot 5609.
From The Costa Family Collection, Part II.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 899226, Base PCGS# 45367)
View all of [The Costa Family Collection, Part II ]
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