As early as 1650, the colony of Massachusetts Bay was a commercial success. But an inadequate supply of money put its future development in jeopardy. England themselves were in short supply and could not send gold and silver coins to the colonies. Massachusetts took matters into their own hands at this point. Boston authorities gave permission to two settlers, John Hull and Robert Sanderson to set up a mint in the capital in 1652. The two were soon striking silver coinage, shillings, sixpences, and threepences. Nearly all of the new coins bore the same date of 1652.
The pine tree shilling was America’s most famous colonial coin. The name comes from the tree found on the front of the coin. It is believed to symbolize one of the Bay Colony’s
The pine tree shilling was America’s most famous colonial coin. The name comes from the tree found on the front of the coin. It is believed to symbolize one of the Bay Colony’s