Group of NGC-certified Massachusetts coins realize over $2.9 million

Massachusetts 1652 Willow Tree sixpence graded NGC AU-55 and pedigreed to the Garrett and Christopher J. Salmon Collections. Realized: $312,000.

Offered by Heritage Auctions, the Salmon Collection rarities were led by a Willow Tree sixpence that sold for $312,000.

A group of 128 rare Massachusetts Colonial coins, nearly all certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), has realized over $2.9 million in a Heritage Auctions sale. Averaging an astounding $23,000 apiece, the coins from the collection of numismatic researcher Christopher J. Salmon were offered on August 22, 2022.

The top lot was a 1652 Willow Tree sixpence graded NGC AU-55 (lot 3250) that realized $312,000. These silver coins from the Massachusetts Bay Colony were among the first to be minted in British America. This particular coin is also pedigreed to the Garrett Collection.

The Willow Tree coins replaced the initial series, known for the ‘NE’ design element that is short for New England. The other side of these coins displays a Roman numeral to denote the denomination: XII represents a shilling, which is the equivalent of twelve pence.

Massachusetts (1652) ‘NE’ shilling graded NGC VF-35 and pedigreed to the Christopher J. Salmon Collection. Realized: $204,000.

The initial ‘NE’ series was seen as vulnerable to clipping and counterfeiting and was quickly phased out. The auction included six examples of ‘NE’ shillings, including one graded NGC VF-35 (lot 3238) that realized $204,000 and another graded NGC EF-45 (lot 3239) that realized $192,000.

Massachusetts (1652) ‘NE’ shilling graded NGC EF-45 and pedigreed to the Christopher J. Salmon Collection. Realized: $192,000.

This is the first of three Heritage sales this year featuring selections from the Salmon Collection. Salmon is the author of Silver Coins of Massachusetts: Classification, Minting Technique, Atlas, the definitive work on these historic coins. The reference book includes an effective and flexible system to classify their varieties.

NGC is showcasing over 350 coins that it certified from the Salmon Collection in an image gallery on its website. The coins are sortable by variety and include their catalog number, offering the coin collecting community a comprehensive research tool for Massachusetts Colonial coinage. To explore the gallery, click here.

Other highlights from the Salmon Collection in the auction included:

a (1652) ‘NE’ shilling (Salmon 1-A) graded NGC AU Details (lot 3237) that realized $180,000
a (1652) ‘NE’ shilling (Salmon 3-D) graded NGG AU-50 (lot 3242) that realized $168,000
a 1652 Willow Tree shilling (Salmon 2-A) graded NGC VF-35 (lot 3245) that realized $156,000
a 1652 Willow Tree shilling (Salmon 3-C) graded NGC VF-30 (lot 3247) that realized $144,000
a 1652 ‘IN’ OBV Oak Tree sixpence (Salmon 3-C) graded NGC AU-55 (lot 3284) that realized $117,000
a 1652 Willow Tree shilling (Salmon 3-D) graded NGC VF-25 (lot 3248) that realized $114,000
a (1652) ‘NE’ shilling (Salmon 3-C) graded NGC VF-35 (lot 3241) that realized $108,000
a (1652) ‘NE’ shilling (Salmon 3-B) graded NGC EF Details (lot 3240) that realized $69,000
a 1652 Pellets Pine Tree shilling (Salmon 1-A) graded NGC MS-63 (lot 3307) that realized $55,200

Prices realized include buyer’s premium.

Press release courtesy of the Numismatic Guaranty Company

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