2016-09-13 Tue

A brand new design was authorised by Massachusetts for the New England coins that were issued from June to October 1652 which stayed until the Boston Mint was last operational in 1682.

These coins featured a double-ring on either side, with the inscriptions 'Massachusetts' and a tree in the centre on the one side and 'New England' and the year of our Lord on the other side. A Law was introduced that locked the designs for the shillings, sixpence, threepence and twopence that were struck after that point in time.

Experts state that there are three distinct types of these New England Coins - Willow, Oak, and Pine. Every type has variations of the artistic representation of the tree that was needed to be depicted on them.

The Willow Tree coins are the rarest which are messy and leafy; the Oak Tree pieces all have naked angular branches, and the Pine Tree coins are widely found which look like conifers.

Experts are still trying to figure out where these coins were struck in a brief span of six months. Many others believe that Oak and Pine series were struck for longer than the Willow series due to their rarity.