Object Details
Description (Brief)
One (1) pine tree shilling coin
Massachusetts, 1652
Obverse Image: Pine tree.
Obverse Text: MASATHVSETS / IN
Reverse Image: N/A
Reverse Text: NEW ENGLAND / AN DOM / 1652 XII
Description
Shortages of coins in the British colonies in North America motivated colonists to make their own money. In 1652 the Massachusetts Bay Colony produced the first colonial American coins. This coin is known as a Pine Tree shilling because its design features a pine tree, which served as a primary export for shipbuilding. By creating their own currencies, colonists demonstrated their increasing autonomy from Great Britain.
Credit Line
Chase Manhattan Bank
date made
1667 - 1682
date on object
1652
ID Number
1979.1263.00420
catalog number
1979.1263.00420
accession number
1979.1263
catalog number
00008
Object Name
coin
Physical Description
silver (overall metal)
0 (overall die axis)
0 (overall die axis measurement)
struck (overall production method)
Measurements
overall: 30 mm; x 1 3/16 in
place made
United States: Massachusetts
place of issue
United States: Massachusetts
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Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
Exhibition
Value of Money
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_1081177