Pine Tree shilling (large planchet)

Date1667-1674

Maker John Hull & Robert Sanderson

MediumSilver

DimensionsDiameter: 28 mm

Credit LineGift of the Lasser family

Object number2006-84,38

Label TextStruck in Boston during the 1660sand 1670s, these coins were made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne, who featured them in his 1841 "Whole Story of Grandfather's Chair," which has a chapter named for the coins. In this tale, John Hull, the central character, pays his rather plump daughter's marriage dowry in Pine tree shillings! Because the real-life John Hull was the minter for Massachusetts during the 17th century he could well have paid the dowry in said coins; however, Hawthorne's version is just an amusing story. Today, the Pine tree coins are famous for being part of the first true coinage made in what is now the United States.

Noe #3

Exhibition(s)