1652 Boston Threepence Coin Sets Auction Record

An American silver threepence coin from 1652, struck in Boston shortly after the first mint was established in the colony, sold for a record-breaking $2.52 million at auction. The coin, discovered in an old cabinet in Amsterdam in 2016, is one of only two known surviving examples, with the other held by the Massachusetts Historical Society. Marked with 'NE' for New England and Roman numerals indicating its value, the coin's rarity and historical significance contributed to its high auction price. Originally found in a box labeled 'Silver token unknown/ From Quincy Family/B. Ma. Dec, 1798,' the coin underwent extensive testing to verify its authenticity. These coins are rare due to their brief production period, as the Boston Mint defied British authority to mint them, symbolizing a burgeoning colonial identity. This auction set a new record for a non-gold U.S. coin struck before the founding of the United States Mint.