Lot 1122 of our August 2016 official auction of the ANA World’s
Fair of Money offers a truly extraordinary Pine Tree threepence type.
Illustrating Sydney P. Noe’s die pair 36 and Christopher J. Salmon’s 2-B
variety, the present piece is in Choice AU preservation and has an equally
handsome pedigree. We previously offered it as part of the John J. Ford, Jr.
Collection, Part XII in October 2005; it went on to realize a stunning $19,550
including buyer’s premium. Prior to Ford’s custodianship, the coin belonged to
F.C.C. Boyd, architect of “The World’s Greatest Collection.” Ford had four
examples of the Noe-36 die pairing, and this piece is the finest of group, not
only in preservation but also in manufacture, as this issue often displays
irregular striking quality and haphazard centering. As both a representative of
the Pine Tree threepence type and the Noe-36 variety, the present offering
demonstrates the pinnacle of execution.
Both sides of this handsome threepence are toned in deep
steel gray. On the obverse the tree is full, the branches are clear, and there
are traces of the root structure visible to the naked eye. The inner beaded
border is complete and the peripheral legend around is fully legible and
completely on the flan. Most of the outer beaded border is present and there is
additional metal at the upper right showing the rim cud that has formed there.
The reverse is nearly perfectly centered with the peripheral legend complete,
the denomination and date bold, the inner beaded border full and most of the
outer beaded border actually showing on the flan. With pleasing eye appeal and superlative
technical quality, this coin is a true jewel that will appeal to colonial
enthusiasts.
This rarity will be offered alongside numerous other
treasures in our August 2016 ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction in Anaheim,
California. To obtain your copy of the catalog or consign your rarities to a
future showcase event, please contact our offices today at 1-800-458-4646 to
speak with a Consignment Director and see what Stack’s Bowers Galleries can do
for you.
