🥇 BANNER The find of a lifetime! 1652 Pine Tree Shilling!

[Donnie B from VA]

This past Sunday I found the find of a lifetime, a 1652 Pine Tree Shilling at a site in Connecticut. I don't post much on here but thought I would share it with you.

 

[RebelYeller]

Amazing find!

 

[Coil-2-Soil]

Man that is a great find. HH

 

[pepperj]

WOW! What a beautiful looking silver, and I can't believe I missed this thread. It's 11 pages of reading and now more dreaming. Seriously you dug yourself a real sweet keeper, and if you don't have another good hunt for a while this one will keep the juices flowing through the veins for sometime. Once again enjoy the memories of the dig, and it's always better to have than had when it comes to a find.
BTW that's one impressive tongue on your GSD. Great looking dog. Here's a shot of my boy at 8 months old.

 

[tigerbeetle]

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!! Now get it authenticated, ASAP! Even if you're not going to sell it, you want to get it into the system, so to speak. It give it so-called provenance.

 

[Iron Patch]

Just goes to prove great finds are still out there. Congratulations on a find of a lifetime!

I would love to debate anyone who says they are not out there! It's a big country to hide little pieces of metal.

 

[trdking]

Congrats on the banner. Well earned!

 

[Iron Patch]

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!! Now get it authenticated, ASAP! Even if you're not going to sell it, you want to get it into the system, so to speak. It give it so-called provenance.

Ok, I had my company take care of this. It now has provenance.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

This was posted to another forum from a White's rep. First, a huge congrats. I live and detect in California, the oldest coin I've dug here was a 1776 one reale, I was very excited about that. BUT to dig a Pine Tree shilling, congrats that's an amazing piece of early US history, even in California we know about those

I hope to get the opportunity for some cellar hole digging back east one of these days, heck looking at the Colonial finds posted, makes me ponder moving back east

Congrats again, that's one incredible bucket lister, congrats on the BANNER

HH,
Cal

 

[jimbonito58]

Donnie Unbelievable Stellar find , congratulations to you

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Beautiful coin, congratulations!

Amazing find!

Man that is a great find. HH

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!! Now get it authenticated, ASAP! Even if you're not going to sell it, you want to get it into the system, so to speak. It give it so-called provenance.

I would love to debate anyone who says they are not out there! It's a big country to hide little pieces of metal.

WOW! What a beautiful looking silver, and I can't believe I missed this thread. It's 11 pages of reading and now more dreaming. Seriously you dug yourself a real sweet keeper, and if you don't have another good hunt for a while this one will keep the juices flowing through the veins for sometime. Once again enjoy the memories of the dig, and it's always better to have than had when it comes to a find.
BTW that's one impressive tongue on your GSD. Great looking dog. Here's a shot of my boy at 8 months old.
View attachment 1466389

Thanks everyone for the kind comments! Tigerbeetle that is a great suggestion. Iron Patch, I always tell myself on pounded sites that it is a big world and a little coil plus I have watched my digging buddy, and friend, Dan, pull out some amazing finds at quiet sites. Pepperj, You have a fine looking dog yourself. My wife loves him! He's just a baby! Our dog (aka The Tongue) is Rozalitta Boobita Focker. Roz for short, LOL!

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Congrats on the banner. Well earned!

Donnie Unbelievable Stellar find , congratulations to you

Thanks guys!

 

[Donnie B from VA]

This was posted to another forum from a White's rep. First, a huge congrats. I live and detect in California, the oldest coin I've dug here was a 1776 one reale, I was very excited about that. BUT to dig a Pine Tree shilling, congrats that's an amazing piece of early US history, even in California we know about those

I hope to get the opportunity for some cellar hole digging back east one of these days, heck looking at the Colonial finds posted, makes me ponder moving back east

Congrats again, that's one incredible bucket lister, congrats on the BANNER

HH,
Cal

Thanks! I have hunted with a couple of the White's Team members before. I posted on their Team page and White's asked me for permission to use my photo. Congrats on that 1916D! Yours is only the second one I have ever seen posted!

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Ok, I had my company take care of this. It now has provenance.

LOL!

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Was very happy to see BANNER this morning! Well deserved congrats...to find a Pine Tree Shilling is an act of Congress, to find one in that condition is an act of God! Kudos, now enjoy it...Ddf

 

[RustyGold]

Awesome Donnie! Congratulations on the Banner. Couldn't happen to a nicer person!

 

[DFW_THer]

Just dropping by to say CONGRATULATIONS. I'll keep dreaming.

 

[cheffer]

Like many others on this forum I jump on regularly and scan Today's Finds, which is always so busy it's hard to keep up. Of course, always eyeball the Banner, and it had been a few weeks since anything made it to the top (despite some amazing posts). Refreshing the page this morning I saw your find right away and knew exactly what it was before even following to the post. Unbelievable...those of us in Mass consider the tree shillings Holy Grails, as many others do, but it has some special significance in our state. Right in Boston, in 1670 or so, you have the local authorities giving permission to settlers John Hull and Robert Sanderson to begin minting coinage as one of the first revolutionary acts of independence by the Puritan colonies. Even the Massachusetts General Court order in and of itself tells such a rich story....

"…all persons what
soever have liberty to bring in unto the mint house at Boston all 
bullion plate or Spanish Coin there to be melted & brought to the
 allay of sterling Silver by John Hull master of the said mint and his sworn officers, & by him to be Coined into 12[SUP]d[/SUP] : 6[SUP]d[/SUP] : & 3[SUP]d[/SUP] pieces which 
shall be for form flat & square on the sides & stamped on the one
side with N E & on the other side w[SUP]th[/SUP] the figure XII[SUP]d[/SUP] VI[SUP]d[/SUP] & III[SUP]d[/SUP]—
according to the value of each piece, together with a privy mark—which shall be Appointed every three months by the Governor & known 
only to him & the sworn officers of the mint."

Colonists in Boston brought their silver to the mint house in a variety of forms; jewelry, candlesticks, foodservice pieces, and, of course all manner of Spanish silver coinage, to be transformed into these humble coins. Imagine the history and the stories that little disc of silver has seen. It's this direct connection to the past that I love most about this hobby, and in particular this coin and its brethren that keeps me out there battling weather and brush and bramble, ticks and mosquitos and aches and pains for even a chance to hold a piece like that.

Donnie, congratulations on your once-in-a-lifetime find, thanks for the opportunity to see it. You've got me wanting to take a sick day and get into the woods!

Steve

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Was very happy to see BANNER this morning! Well deserved congrats...to find a Pine Tree Shilling is an act of Congress, to find one in that condition is an act of God! Kudos, now enjoy it...Ddf

Awesome Donnie! Congratulations on the Banner. Couldn't happen to a nicer person!

Thank you for your kind comments. My digging buddy, and friend, Dan, told me that colonists would hoard their nicer coins and spend the worn and clipped ones. This coin may have been hoarded or was lost very soon after leaving the mint. I am afraid to touch it!

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Just dropping by to say CONGRATULATIONS. I'll keep dreaming.

Thanks Brad and congrats on your Flowing Hair! I'll keep dreaming about that one!

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Like many others on this forum I jump on regularly and scan Today's Finds, which is always so busy it's hard to keep up. Of course, always eyeball the Banner, and it had been a few weeks since anything made it to the top (despite some amazing posts). Refreshing the page this morning I saw your find right away and knew exactly what it was before even following to the post. Unbelievable...those of us in Mass consider the tree shillings Holy Grails, as many others do, but it has some special significance in our state. Right in Boston, in 1670 or so, you have the local authorities giving permission to settlers John Hull and Robert Sanderson to begin minting coinage as one of the first revolutionary acts of independence by the Puritan colonies. Even the Massachusetts General Court order in and of itself tells such a rich story....

"…all persons what
soever have liberty to bring in unto the mint house at Boston all 
bullion plate or Spanish Coin there to be melted & brought to the
 allay of sterling Silver by John Hull master of the said mint and his sworn officers, & by him to be Coined into 12[SUP]d[/SUP] : 6[SUP]d[/SUP] : & 3[SUP]d[/SUP] pieces which 
shall be for form flat & square on the sides & stamped on the one
side with N E & on the other side w[SUP]th[/SUP] the figure XII[SUP]d[/SUP] VI[SUP]d[/SUP] & III[SUP]d[/SUP]—
according to the value of each piece, together with a privy mark—which shall be Appointed every three months by the Governor & known 
only to him & the sworn officers of the mint."

Colonists in Boston brought their silver to the mint house in a variety of forms; jewelry, candlesticks, foodservice pieces, and, of course all manner of Spanish silver coinage, to be transformed into these humble coins. Imagine the history and the stories that little disc of silver has seen. It's this direct connection to the past that I love most about this hobby, and in particular this coin and its brethren that keeps me out there battling weather and brush and bramble, ticks and mosquitos and aches and pains for even a chance to hold a piece like that.

Donnie, congratulations on your once-in-a-lifetime find, thanks for the opportunity to see it. You've got me wanting to take a sick day and get into the woods!

Steve

Thanks Steve and I agree 100% with your statement. It's the chance to hold history in your hand that makes this a great hobby. Imagine, the person who lost this coin was wearing shoe buckles and may have been a direct descendant of someone from the Mayflower! I also found an iron shoe buckle at the site and preserved it with electrolysis.