Massachusetts Willow Tree Shilling

The Willow Tree shilling is the first of the celebrated 'tree series' coins minted by the Massachusetts Bay Colony, struck at a small colonial mint in Boston during a period when the colonies had no formal royal authorization to coin their own money. Because the colony deliberately kept every coin dated 1652, regardless of the year it was actually struck, the Willow Tree shilling's true production window can only be estimated from historical and stylistic evidence rather than the date on the coin itself.

As the earliest and shortest-lived design in the tree series, which later continued with the Oak Tree and then the more common Pine Tree shillings, the Willow Tree issue survives today in only a small number of examples, most showing significant wear or striking weakness typical of the primitive minting equipment used at the time.

Its rarity and status as a foundational piece of American colonial coinage make it one of the most desirable and expensive coins in the entire early American series, sought after by advanced collectors of colonial and pre-federal U.S. numismatics.

In 1652, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, needing a reliable local currency and frustrated by chronic shortages of small change, authorized John Hull and his partner Robert Sanderson to establish a mint in Boston to strike silver coins from bullion brought in by colonists, despite the colony technically lacking royal permission to coin money. To avoid drawing unwanted attention from the English crown, the colony had all coins dated 1652 no matter when they were actually produced, a practice that continued for decades.

The earliest tree-series design used at this mint is now known as the Willow Tree type, believed to have been struck for a relatively brief initial period before giving way to the Oak Tree design. Production techniques were primitive, using simple hand-operated presses, which resulted in coins that were often unevenly struck, off-center, or showing incomplete design elements.

Because of the small number surviving today and their status as the first substantial silver coinage struck within the future United States, Willow Tree shillings occupy a foundational place in American numismatic history, predating the country's independence by well over a century.

The obverse shows a stylized willow tree design at the center, surrounded by the legend MASATHVSETS (or similar contemporary spelling) around the rim. The reverse bears the date 1652, the denomination NE ANGLIA (or similar), and the value in Roman numerals, all within a beaded border, following the general pattern used across the later Oak Tree and Pine Tree shillings as well.

Willow Tree shillings are generally small, silver, and irregularly struck, often showing weak or incomplete detail due to the primitive press technology of the Boston mint, and genuine examples are almost always found with significant wear given both their age and historical circulation. The overall silver standard aimed to approximate English sterling coinage of the period, though weight and fineness could vary somewhat between individual pieces.

Distinguishing a genuine Willow Tree shilling from the later, more common Oak Tree and Pine Tree types requires careful attention to the tree design itself, as each type uses a visually distinct rendering; given the coin's high value and rarity, any purchase should involve certification from a recognized numismatic grading service.

The Willow Tree shilling is exceptionally rare and consistently ranks among the most valuable coins in American colonial numismatics, with authenticated examples typically commanding prices well into the tens of thousands of dollars or more depending on condition and specific variety, even in relatively worn grades.

Because so few examples are known to survive, condition sensitivity is somewhat different from more common coin types: even modestly preserved genuine pieces are highly desirable simply due to their extreme rarity, though sharper strikes and better overall eye appeal do command further premiums among advanced specialists.

Given the coin's rarity and value, authentication by a major numismatic grading service is essential before any purchase, as the historical importance and price level of Willow Tree shillings have made them a target for careful scrutiny and, historically, occasional forgeries.