1652 Oak Tree Shilling Noe-10 Salmon 8-F W510 R6 Ghost Tree IN at Bottom PCGS VF20 Syd Martin

From the 08/19/23 Stacks Syd Martin Part IV auction where this coin was lot #8151 and described as: “1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-10, Salmon 8-F, W-510. Rarity-6. IN at Bottom, Ghost Tree. VF-20 (PCGS).  73.0 grains. A noteworthy second example for this normally highly elusive variety, this one struck on a much larger flan that is actually quite huge. Shape is ovoid, not too far out of round, with no significant edge irregularities. A natural planchet flaw is seen on the obverse, just below the tree, internal planchet crack on reverse below the Roman numeral X in the denomination. The strike is off center to 12:30 on both obverse and reverse, but the huge flan was still able to take full legends on both sides. The outer borders, however, are incomplete at tops. The popular Ghost Tree of this Noe number lives up to its name here, for the central obverse appears smooth during direct viewing, but the faint outlines of most features in the tree pop out nicely as the coin is tilted to one side or the other. Otherwise we note only localized weakness around the peripheries on both sides, central reverse also soft at the denomination. Warmly and evenly toned in pewter-gray with a hint of olive, the surfaces show no marks of note apart from a faint vertical pin scratch that nearly bisects the reverse, travelling through the digit 6 in the date along the way. Not quite the equal of the primary Martin Noe-10 offered above, but still a desirable circulated example of this challenging variety. The jumbo flan and pleasingly original surfaces are particularly desirable attributes.  Provenance: From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Chris Young, April 2009.”  PCGS #915137.20/46500056, with “Oak Tree, Noe-10, 73 gr” listed on the label.  This coin realized $3,240 in that auction, and my asking price on my website and eBay is $4,500.  Please make sure you SIGN IN to your account on my website to see DISCOUNTED pricing!