The 1652 Massachusetts Pine Tree Shilling is one of the earliest known American coins – a colonial coin, technically. Likely to have been minted around 1670, the 1652 date may signify the founding of the Massachusetts mint. Some believe it to be a reflection of larger political events – a symbol of rebellion against English rule. A local jeweler suggested to our client that the coin was fake. We thought it was genuine, so our client entrusted us to send it to an important coin lab where it was verified. The silver value of this coin is just $2, but its current value is around $1,000 even with the poor condition and having been clipped and with a hole. Were it in better condition, it could be worth anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000.
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