HULL, John (1624-1683) Colonial American engraver, diesinker,
mintmaster; silversmith, merchant, colonial official, banker, shipowner.
Born Leicestershire, England, 18 December 1624.
Came to America 1635. Became the first engraver of
American colonial coins, founded first mint in America,
1652, for Massachusetts Bay Colony; struck NE issues,
Willow Tree and Oak Tree issues in three denominations
(shilling, sixpence, threepence) from 1652 until Hull's
death 1683 (all dated 1652). These were the first coins
struck in America (previous coins, for Sommer Islands,
struck in England). Hull aided by Robert Saunderson in
his mint ventures as well as their silversmith business (also
one of first in America).
Hull active in Boston military companies (1654-75); ship
owner (1662-68) [one named Tryall], owner cattle & horse
farms, treasurer Massachusetts Bay Colony (1675-80);
assistant to governor (1680). Accredited as leading machinist
and banker in colonies; amassed sizeable fortune, willed to
wife and daughter. (Apocryphal story: gave his daughter her
weight in his silver NE coins for wedding present.)
Died Boston, Massachusetts, 28 September 1683.
Hull's coin designs widely replicated on medals and tokens
in American numismatics [no attempt has beenmade to list
these here].
C O I N S
1652 NE Issues: XII (shilling), VI (sixpence), III
(threepence) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 8-11
Illustrated: N33 {1998} Bowers, Am Numismatics, p . . 33
1652 Willow Tree Issues: shilling, sixpence, and
threepence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 12-14
1652 Oak Tree Issues: shilling, sixpence, and
threepence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 15-36
1652 Pine Tree Issues Large size: shilling, sixpence,
threepence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 37-51
Illustrated: N33 {1998} Bowers, Am Numismatics, p . . 35
1652 Pine Tree Issues Small size: shilling . . . Breen 38-63
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 52:402
Illustrated: N33 {1998} Bowers, Am Numismatics, p. . 21
B I O G R A P H I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
101 {1940} Clarke (Herman Frederick) John Hull, A Builder of the Bay Colony. Portland ME: The Southworth- Anthoensen Press (1940) 221 pages.
BH {1963} Who Was Who, p 256.
BANB{1999} American National Biography, p 11:453-454, by Gerald W.R. Wald.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 2:574-575.
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 12.
E8A {1951} Kenney Manuscript File.
N21 {1974} Clain-Stefanelli, p 158.
O12 {1988} Breen 8-63, p 11-18.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 123.
N33 {1998} Bowers, American Numismatics, 21, 33, 35.
N36 {2002} Bowers, More Adventures, p 13-18 (1652 Pine Tree Shilling).
101 {2003} Jordan (Louis) John Hall, The Mint and the Economics of Massachusetts Coinage.
Mss Smith (Pete) Private Mints in North America.
mintmaster; silversmith, merchant, colonial official, banker, shipowner.
Born Leicestershire, England, 18 December 1624.
Came to America 1635. Became the first engraver of
American colonial coins, founded first mint in America,
1652, for Massachusetts Bay Colony; struck NE issues,
Willow Tree and Oak Tree issues in three denominations
(shilling, sixpence, threepence) from 1652 until Hull's
death 1683 (all dated 1652). These were the first coins
struck in America (previous coins, for Sommer Islands,
struck in England). Hull aided by Robert Saunderson in
his mint ventures as well as their silversmith business (also
one of first in America).
Hull active in Boston military companies (1654-75); ship
owner (1662-68) [one named Tryall], owner cattle & horse
farms, treasurer Massachusetts Bay Colony (1675-80);
assistant to governor (1680). Accredited as leading machinist
and banker in colonies; amassed sizeable fortune, willed to
wife and daughter. (Apocryphal story: gave his daughter her
weight in his silver NE coins for wedding present.)
Died Boston, Massachusetts, 28 September 1683.
Hull's coin designs widely replicated on medals and tokens
in American numismatics [no attempt has beenmade to list
these here].
C O I N S
1652 NE Issues: XII (shilling), VI (sixpence), III
(threepence) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 8-11
Illustrated: N33 {1998} Bowers, Am Numismatics, p . . 33
1652 Willow Tree Issues: shilling, sixpence, and
threepence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 12-14
1652 Oak Tree Issues: shilling, sixpence, and
threepence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 15-36
1652 Pine Tree Issues Large size: shilling, sixpence,
threepence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 37-51
Illustrated: N33 {1998} Bowers, Am Numismatics, p . . 35
1652 Pine Tree Issues Small size: shilling . . . Breen 38-63
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 52:402
Illustrated: N33 {1998} Bowers, Am Numismatics, p. . 21
B I O G R A P H I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
101 {1940} Clarke (Herman Frederick) John Hull, A Builder of the Bay Colony. Portland ME: The Southworth- Anthoensen Press (1940) 221 pages.
BH {1963} Who Was Who, p 256.
BANB{1999} American National Biography, p 11:453-454, by Gerald W.R. Wald.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 2:574-575.
E8 {1951} Kenney, p 12.
E8A {1951} Kenney Manuscript File.
N21 {1974} Clain-Stefanelli, p 158.
O12 {1988} Breen 8-63, p 11-18.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 123.
N33 {1998} Bowers, American Numismatics, 21, 33, 35.
N36 {2002} Bowers, More Adventures, p 13-18 (1652 Pine Tree Shilling).
101 {2003} Jordan (Louis) John Hall, The Mint and the Economics of Massachusetts Coinage.
Mss Smith (Pete) Private Mints in North America.