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Orbis Collectibles

Massachusetts silver coinage

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

1652 onwards

Massachusetts silver coinage comprises silver denominations of three pence, six pence, and one shilling struck in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Authorised under colonial legislation passed in 1652, the coins were produced by moneyers John Hull and Robert Sanderson at the Hull Mint. Struck to supplement sterling and foreign specie in circulation, these pieces formed an essential component of the colonial currency system until the mint was closed by the English government in 1682.

The coinage was produced between 1652 and 1682, circulating extensively throughout North America and the Caribbean. The coins were issued in several successive design varieties. The earliest pieces were stamped simply with the letters NE and the Roman numerals III, VI, or XII to indicate the denomination. Later issues featured botanical imagery: the willow tree appeared on pieces struck between 1652 and 1660 or 1662, followed by the oak tree until circa 1667. The pine tree design, possibly representing Massachusetts timber exported for ships' masts, was produced from circa 1667 until 1682. Type attribution relies on specialist references, tree style, and planchet shape.

Distinguishing among the tree types requires examining the specific tree style and planchet shape.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
0

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Struck without royal authority, most bearing the frozen date 1652 regardless of actual year of production.

Design

Note
Types distinguished by the tree device on the obverse.

Identification

Note
Type attribution depends on tree style and planchet shape; specialist references required.
How to identify
To identify this coinage, inspect the pieces for the letters NE with Roman numerals III, VI, or XII, or for the willow, oak, or pine tree motifs, typically bearing the 1652 date.
Source note
Background drawn from Wikipedia (“Massachusetts pound”), a tertiary source; details have not yet been checked against issuing-authority records or a standard catalogue.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Research required
Weight
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Mint or printer
Research required
Mint or printer mark
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Catalogue reference
Research required
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.

Research required

  • Weights, silver standard and die varieties require transcription from a printed reference.
  • Distribution of surviving specimens by type not yet documented.
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