✅ SOLVED cut 1652 Oak Tree Shilling

[BigBobBow]

Hello folks. I found this cut piece a few years ago and had it placed with some other cut Spanish coins until recently I noticed it was different. I now know it is a 1652 Oak Tree Shilling. My quest is to find out more about it. What variety may it be? Should I get it authenticated? A fellow on another Forum(oxbowbarefoot) gave me some great insight on my piece. He stated it could possibly be a Noe 13.6 or 13.9 or even a 14. Upon this, looking at mine and seeing what those look like, it does seem to appear a match to the 13.6. Any thoughts?

 

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[Bill D. (VA)]

When copper coins or smaller denomination silver wasn't available, coins were cut to make change for small purchases. The practice was common in Europe in the days of hammered silver coinage. The most commonly cut coins in the US are the Spanish Milled Reales. The cross on those coins made cutting much more convenient. The cut pieces were known as "bits", sharp silver and frontier change. Finding cut pieces usually means that significant trade was conducted in the area and the chance of finding more coins is strong. An Oak or Pine Tree Shilling had a value of 12 pence, which would mean that the bits we have found were worth 2-3 pence apiece depending on how much they weighed.

Very nice summary Jason. There was a considerable amount of commerce here in southeast Virginia during the 17th and 18th centuries due to all the early plantations and navigable waterways, especially due to the growing of tobacco. This probably accounts for the large number of cut coins I've dug around here. I think 72 or 73 of my 150 colonial silver coins were cut, and most were 90 degree wedges. Another oddity is that we find very few early coppers in this area. Things seem to be reversed up north. I'm sure commerce is largely responsible for that.

 

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[oxbowbarefoot]

Very nice summary Jason. There was a considerable amount of commerce here in southeast Virginia during the 17th and 18th centuries due to all the early plantations and navigable waterways, especially due to the growing of tobacco. This probably accounts for the large number of cut coins I've dug around here. I think 72 or 73 of my 150 colonial silver coins were cut, and most were 90 degree wedges. Another oddity is that we find very few early coppers in this area. Things seem to be reversed up north. I'm sure commerce is largely responsible for that.

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Love that picture. Of my 10 or so Colonial Silvers, only 1 was cut. I do find a lot of coppers, and several of my colonial silvers are half reales, so I imagine they were the primary small change up my way.

 

[BigBobBow]

That is an awesome lot of colonial silver Bill! I mostly dig eastern Henrico Co. and west into Goochland and Hanover Co. I have 6 cuts now(lost one somehow) and three wholes. Did someone make a button of some sort with the one near the bottom right? Keep up the good work!

 

[BigBobBow]

Hope you find a few more to Ox. Here is what I have found. I was wrong about my wholes, I have 5. Although a couple of them are near blank. Oh well.

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

Hope you find a few more to Ox. Here is what I have found. I was wrong about my wholes, I have 5. Although a couple of them are near blank. Oh well. <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=906749"/>

Wow, you've got some nice colonial silver there. Nice finds!

 

[BigBobBow]

Thanks! Do you know what the one that looks it was punched but doesn't go through may have been for? As you can see, most of mine are holed, but the one doesn't go all the way through. May just be an accident?