Pine Tree Money
Pine Tree Money, the name given to the first coins struck in the North American colonies. These silver coins were minted by Massachusetts between 1652 and 1682 in shilling, sixpence, and threepence denominations, without authority from the English government.
The first coins had no pictorial design, but later ones showed an oak, willow, or pine tree on the front, together with the date “1652,” which was not altered in later mintings. Masathusets was inscribed on the front and New England on the back.
The pine tree money was made with less silver than its English equivalents to discourage its use outside of the colony. The demand for silver was so great, however, that pine tree shillings were exported nevertheless.