The “Oak Tree Shilling”- How A Tall Tale Turned Traitorous Colonists Into Parcels of Honest Dogs

JCH22

Background: During the early colonial period, England devolved into a civil war. Charles I was executed in 1649, and it fell to his son, Charles II to battle the Parliamentary forces led by Cromwell to restore the throne.

Things did not go well at first for the younger Charles. Defeated by Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, Charles was forced to take refugee in an Oak Tree at Boscobel Wood as enemy forces passed by. The “Royal Oak” has since entered English mythology---and Royal Oak Day has been celebrated since each May 29th.

Charles’ fortunes changed, and he and the throne were restored in 1660.

During the interregnum, the Pine Tree Shilling was struck. This was contrary to royal prerogative. On learning of the coinages, Charles was none too pleased. During a 1662 audience, it fell to the quick-witted colonial agent Sir Thomas Temple to mollify an irate Charles II for the usurpation of his authority:

…. the king expressed great wrath against the Colony, and said that they had invaded his prerogative by coining money. Sir Thomas told his majesty that the colonists had but little acquaintance with law; that they had no ill design; and thought it no crime to make money for their own use. In the course of the conversation, Sir Thomas took some of the money out of his pocket, and presented it to the king. On one side of the coin was a pine-tree, of that kind which is thick and bushy at the top. Charles inquired what tree that was. Sir Thomas informed him it was the royal oak; adding, that the Massachusetts people, not daring to put his majesty's name on their coin during the late troubles, had impressed upon it the emblem of the oak which preserved his majesty's life. This account of the matter brought the king into good-humor, and disposed him to hear what Sir Thomas had to say in their favor, calling them a parcel of honest dogs."

From Pg. 293 below: