U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Massachusetts silver
Massachusetts silver: a dated coin is not a dated production record
New England pieces use punched NE and Roman value marks; Willow, Oak, and Pine Tree pieces use fuller inscriptions and tree designs.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Read the issuing context
New England pieces use punched NE and Roman value marks; Willow, Oak, and Pine Tree pieces use fuller inscriptions and tree designs. Read the denomination before comparing size or weight.
Type references: PCGS Massachusetts Silver Coins ↗; Metropolitan Museum early American silver ↗
Inspect the attribution evidence
The familiar 1652 inscription occurs on coins made later; the tree series also includes 1662 twopence. A historical date can identify the type without establishing its exact striking year. Irregular fabric should be evaluated against the same type rather than a modern round-coin expectation.
Type references: PCGS Massachusetts Silver Coins ↗; Metropolitan Museum early American silver ↗
Choose the matching market
Photograph lettering, tree, edges, and any clipped area. Distinguish clipping, holes, repairs, and weakly struck detail. Match the tree type, denomination, die attribution, and surface status in sales; a famous auction specimen is not a substitute for the specific piece.
Type references: PCGS Massachusetts Silver Coins ↗; Metropolitan Museum early American silver ↗
Selected reviewed issue records
These catalog standards describe the named issue, not a measured specimen. The selected records below do not cover every date, mint, strike, or die variety. Reported production is labeled separately from established mintage. Unknown standards and mintage remain visible; survival estimates and certified populations are separate research questions.
No issue-level specification or mintage records are published for this category yet. Verify the exact date, mint, strike, metal, and subtype in its reference before using a numerical standard.
References and review
Reference reviewed October 5, 2026. Historical facts and catalog standards need to match the exact issue; price comparisons should be researched at the time of valuation.
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