The most exciting thing about a visit to a pawn shop is that almost anything might be there. When people need money quickly, they select a valuable item that they own and head to the pawn shop. That item might be anything, including American colonial coins in Bellevue WA.
The First Coins of the New World
The first “U.S.” coins were struck in New England in the mid-1600s, 100 years earlier than the Boston Tea Party. These coins weren’t very fancy, simple round silver discs with “NE” stamped on the top of one side and the value of the coin on the reverse. It’s unlikely that one of these could be found in a pawn shop since only 14 are known to exist, but it could happen.
The simplicity of the design, leaving the bottom half of the coin completely plain, made it easy for people to cut off, or “clip,” a little piece from the coin. Complaints about coins that did not contain the right amount of silver caused those coins to be replaced with coins having more elaborate designs in only a few months. (Clipped coins have been a problem throughout time, and is the reason almost all coins, ancient to new, have a design that covers the entire face and reverse of the coin.)
The Willow Tree Threepence
The Willow Tree Threepence is one of the most well-known. This coin displays a tree in the center, surrounded by rings of beads that contained the words “MASATHVSETS IN.” One of the oddities about the Willow Tree coins is that all of the coins are dated 1652, even though the coins were struck until 1660. Oak Tree coins followed the Willow Tree Coins, from 1660-67. Instead of being “struck” by a hammer, these coins were produced with a rocker press, a great improvement.
The Pine Tree coins were next, issued from 1667-82. These coins were also all dated 1652, except for the Oak Tree 2 pence, which has a 1662 date. If one discovers one of the Willow, Oak or Pine Tree coins and it’s not dated 1652 (except for the Oak Tree 2 pence), it’s a fake.
Business Name has treasures of all types waiting to be discovered. Whether you have an interest in jewelry, cameras or American Colonial Coins in Bellevue WA, it could be on the shelves. Browse our website frequently to see what just arrived.
