Pair of Pine Tree Shillings

<p>In 1652 the General Court of Massachusetts called upon John Hull and Robert Sanderson to establish the first local mint in the state. To prevent counterfeiting of the new currency, a design of a pine tree within a double-bead ring, enclosing the words <em>IN MASATHVSETS</em> on one side and <em>NEW ENGLAND AN DOM</em> on the other, was stamped on the coins. Although the coins were produced every year until 1682, all were stamped with the date of the founding of the mint: 1652.</p>