What do I want in a Pine Tree Shilling?

topstuf · June 22, 2017 3:45PM

I ....think... I want the LARGE planchet.
I...know.... I want PCGS

Any input appreciated.

1630Boston · June 22, 2017 3:46PM

Only YOU can determine the answer to that question

1630Boston · June 22, 2017 3:49PM

Me personally at this juncture in time............I want a large

1630Boston · June 22, 2017 3:49PM

Definitely PCGS and for me CAC.....JMHO

AngryTurtle · June 22, 2017 4:00PM

They are two separate types, so ideally both. The Large is more of a handmade coin, and the small made with more modern (for 1652) methods, so depending on if you want a semi unique handcrafted piece (large) or somewhat better made (small) take your pick.

MorganMan94 · June 22, 2017 4:11PM

I would be more concerned with eye appeal, condition/grade, and price.

topstuf · June 22, 2017 4:20PM

Anyone got one for sale or have a line on one?

mbogoman · June 22, 2017 4:21PM

Well centered, complete legends and devices and, of course, no major problems. Large or small or even better, both. If you're like me, one was not enough! Nor is one denomination!

topstuf · June 22, 2017 4:33PM

Well, I had 2 "wants."

One, a California territorial gold (not fractional) and the Pine Tree.
Found a CA piece but still looking for the colonial.

I'll see where it takes me when I get both.

MikeInFL · June 22, 2017 4:43PM

In coins, like most things in life, bigger is better.

topstuf · June 22, 2017 4:49PM

Anyone have a Pine Tree COASTER?

davewesen · June 22, 2017 6:51PM

You should have at least 3
a pine tree, oak tree, and willow tree
also a shilling, 6 pence and 3 pence

jonruns · June 22, 2017 7:55PM

CRO usually has some nice ones...

MrEureka · June 22, 2017 8:28PM

So the brand of the plastic is more important than the quality of the coin?

topstuf · June 22, 2017 9:26PM

@MrEureka said:
So the brand of the plastic is more important than the quality of the coin?

Getting that way fast!

topstuf · June 22, 2017 9:51PM

A recent coin's excellence made an NGC holder acceptable, but that's unusual.
I am not buying coins in their holders unless they are spectacular.

I expect this to accelerate.

Zoins · June 22, 2017 10:06PM

Strike and color:

Treashunt · June 23, 2017 4:06AM

the more the better

ricko · June 23, 2017 4:16AM

Really, any Pine Tree Shilling will do to start.... I can work on upgrading after that... Cheers, RickO

mbogoman · June 23, 2017 5:11AM

@davewesen said:
You should have at least 3
a pine tree, oak tree, and willow tree
also a shilling, 6 pence and 3 pence

Don't forget an Oak Tree 2 pence! (for the complete denomination set)

BillJones · June 23, 2017 6:24AM

Here are a couple of samples.

Here is a large planchet Pine Tree Shilling. This variety is a Noe 1, which is "the poster child" for the coin. The design was well executed, and it is often found well centered with all of the legends complete. This one is a PCGS EF-45. The upside is that it is fairly attractive. The downside is the the color has been "helped," but it was what I could afford at the time. Prices for the pieces that are not much better than this go up very quickly Given my luck with the major auctions (mostly bad) I'm happy with this.

These were struck on a rocker press which rolled over the planchet to strike the coin. As a result they are all bent to a degree. Given the fact that they are bent, needless to say these coins did not wear evenly in circulation. It leaves you with a situation where the nices are EF or better, and the not so nice ones have incomplete details. In other words, I'm not sure if there is an "evenly worn" example in VF or lower.

Here is a small planchet Pine Tree Shilling. This one is graded VF-35. These coins were struck on a screw press and they wear more evenly because they were not bent when they were made. They are more common, and they came at the end of the Massachusetts silver coinage. They are not quite as exciting as the large planchet pieces, but you can get a nicer coin for the money preservation wise. I have owned this one since the early 1980s. This is a Noe 16, which probably the most common Pine Tree Shilling. It come well made for the type.

pmac · June 23, 2017 6:43AM

I have a British Commonwealth Cromwell 1856 shilling. At this point of my collecting, this might be the closest I come to a Massachusetts minted coin. This time period of English history made it possible to mint coins in the colonies because there was a restriction of minting coins with the King's (Queen's) image outside of England. Where Cromwell was not either, this gave us an excuse to augment the limited coins in circulation in Massachusetts. I'm drooling over some of the coins in this thread.

Weiss · June 23, 2017 6:55AM

Large planchet. Well centered. Original surfaces. PCGS and CAC.

Why large planchet? Because without having ever seen one in hand, I had no idea how large they were. Note that is a barber _half _dollar, not a quarter:

topstuf · June 23, 2017 6:59AM

Weiss sucks!

BillJones · June 23, 2017 7:40AM

@davewesen said:
You should have at least 3
a pine tree, oak tree, and willow tree
also a shilling, 6 pence and 3 pence

A Willow Tree? Did you have a very rich uncle that just passed on? You forgot the NE coinage. That also requires a healthy bank balance.

asheland · June 23, 2017 9:30AM

That's quite a coin to have no doubt!

coindeuce · June 23, 2017 9:34AM

@topstuf said:
Anyone got one for sale or have a line on one?

John Agre of CRO is your go to guy for Pine Trees. And you won't get a sappy sales pitch.

Treashunt · June 23, 2017 9:59AM

@topstuf said:
Weiss sucks!

ditto

golden · June 23, 2017 10:07AM

All collectors need one.

1630Boston · June 23, 2017 10:34AM

Here's a small

1630Boston · June 23, 2017 10:50AM

After careful consideration of what I have, I must go with the Large myself.

SaorAlba · June 23, 2017 11:56AM

Ah how my wee money loving heart desireth such a finery for my numismatic accumulation. But alas, college for the nippers takes precedence thus. :'(

topstuf · June 23, 2017 11:59AM

@1630Boston said:
After careful consideration of what I have, I must go with the Large myself.

Prithee, canst thee make change for a pistareen?

topstuf · June 23, 2017 12:12PM

Welllllllllll well well well....

Not ONE vote for the ....small... planchet?

1630Boston · June 23, 2017 12:17PM

@topstuf
I think you should get the small, while I search for the large

BIGAL2749 · June 23, 2017 1:25PM

After taking a 4-5 year hiatus from coins I attended the Boston 2010 ANA show looking for a Pine Tree.
Saw a few that I was considering but ran across an Oak Tree with great luster in AU 58 that ended up coming home with me.
Since then I've gotten a small planchet but I'd like to add the large planchet to complete a set of three.
Grade is not that important and would like any nice looking VF and up. Hell, a "nice" looking VG would work.

topstuf · June 23, 2017 4:27PM

Uh-oh... the itch is waning.

I just ordered a bust quarter. I fear my resolve fading fast.

I just KNEW that if I got the California territorial before the PTS in my bucket list that things could change.

Owoooooo!!!!!

CoinRaritiesOnline · June 24, 2017 5:22AM

The 'non-grade' attributes will matter more than the numerical grade for these - ideally you'd find one with the following:

Original color.
No edge splits.
Good centering.
A nice even strike.
A complete tree.
A bold date.
Full legends.
No damage.

And while that is the ideal, the reality is that compromises often need to be made (at all grades), and you are unlikely to find an almost perfect one. If you do, it will sell for a significant premium.

You'll also find that some die varieties are generally regarded as more aesthetic and desirable than others, and routinely sell for me.

I could go on for several pages here, but that's the abridged version.

1630Boston · June 24, 2017 6:03AM

@CoinRaritiesOnline
Just curious, have you ever seen a 'holed' Pine Tree coin ?

CoinRaritiesOnline · June 24, 2017 11:20AM

@1630Boston said:
@CoinRaritiesOnline
Just curious, have you ever seen a 'holed' Pine Tree coin ?

Many. And I've seen many others that used to be holed but aren't anymore.

jmski52 · June 24, 2017 6:21PM

You definitely need a copy of The Hardy Boys "The Secret of the Old Mill" to accompany your Pine Tree Shilling.

What do I want in a Pine Tree Shilling?

What do I want in a Pine Tree Shilling?

What do I want in a Pine Tree Shilling? 22 votes

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