Pair of Pine Tree Shillings
John Hull
1663–82
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Each diam: H.: 2.3 cm (7/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
64689
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
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 IN MASATHVSETS on one side and NEW ENGLAND AN DOM 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.