这枚稀有硬币于 1652 年在波士顿殖民地时期铸造，售价超过 250 万美元

八年前，在阿姆斯特丹的一个柜子后面发现了一枚小银币。它大约有 5 分镍币大小，银价为 1.03 美元。

A small silver coin was found in the back of a cabinet in Amsterdam eight years ago. It is about the size of a nickel and has a silver value of $1.03.

八年前，在阿姆斯特丹的一个柜子后面发现了一枚小银币。它大约有 5 分镍币大小，银价为 1.03 美元。

However, it was also minted in 1652 in colonial Boston, more than a century before the 13 colonies declared independence from Britain.

然而，它也是于 1652 年在殖民地波士顿铸造的，比 13 个殖民地宣布脱离英国独立早了一个多世纪。

It was stamped with the initials “NE,” which stands for New England. The silver coin represents a rebellious act by the 13 colonies against the royal overlords who tried to control them.

它上面印有缩写“NE”，代表新英格兰。银币代表了13个殖民地对试图控制他们的皇家霸主的反抗行为。

Very few of these coins have survived until now, which makes this coin a rarity. It was sold at auction for over $2.5 million, setting a new record for an American coin created before the Revolution.

这些硬币至今存世量极少，这使得这枚硬币非常稀有。这枚硬币在拍卖会上以超过 250 万美元的价格售出，创下了革命前美国硬币的新纪录。

The coin was discovered in 2016 in an antique cabinet belonging to a homeowner in the Netherlands. It was next to a note that read, “Silver token unknown / From Quincy family / B. Ma. Dec 1798.”

这枚硬币于 2016 年在荷兰一位房主的古董柜中被发现。旁边有一张纸条，上面写着：“银币未知/来自昆西家族/B. Ma。 1798 年 12 月。”

At first, the discoverer was unaware of the coin’s history. After working with the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), more information was revealed.

起初，发现者并不知道这枚硬币的历史。在与专业钱币评级服务机构（PCGS）合作后，更多信息被披露。

They found that the note was written in 1798, but the coin was much older. It had been made at the Boston Mint in 1652.

他们发现纸币是 1798 年写的，但硬币的历史要早得多。它于 1652 年在波士顿造币厂铸造。

At the time the note was written, such coins were already considered a rarity. Furthermore, the coin’s link to the Quincy family was confirmed.

在写下这张纸条时，这种硬币已经被认为是稀有的。此外，这枚硬币与昆西家族的联系也得到了证实。

By producing its own coins, the Boston Mint challenged the British crown’s authority, representing New England’s determination to separate itself from British rule and regulate its own economy, according to the Massachusetts Historical Society.

据马萨诸塞州历史学会称，波士顿造币厂通过生产自己的硬币，挑战了英国王室的权威，代表了新英格兰摆脱英国统治并规范自身经济的决心。

In 1781, Boston Mint coins were highly sought after by collectors. That same year, an English coin collector named Thomas Brand Hollis wrote to John Adams, the future president, and then-ambassador to the Netherlands, for help in obtaining one of the Boston Mint coins.

1781年，波士顿造币厂的硬币受到收藏家的追捧。同年，一位名叫托马斯·布兰德·霍利斯的英国硬币收藏家写信给未来的总统、时任驻荷兰大使约翰·亚当斯，请求帮助获得一枚波士顿造币厂硬币。

Adams asked his wife Abigail for assistance since her great-grandfather was the stepbrother of John Hull, the silversmith who was responsible for minting the coins.

亚当斯向他的妻子阿比盖尔寻求帮助，因为她的曾祖父是负责铸造硬币的银匠约翰·赫尔的继兄弟。

So far, it is unclear whether the recently auctioned coin was shipped across the Atlantic by Adams, but the auction house thinks it is likely.

到目前为止，尚不清楚最近拍卖的这枚硬币是否是由亚当斯跨越大西洋运来的，但拍卖行认为这是有可能的。

The only other known threepence coin of this type is housed in the Massachusetts Historical Society’s collection.

唯一已知的这种类型的三便士硬币由马萨诸塞州历史学会收藏。

“As the very first American coins, NE shillings, sixpence, and threepence see a high level of demand and sell for dramatically high prices to well-heeled, historically minded collectors,” said Vicken Yegparian, the vice president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries.

“作为最早的美国硬币，新先令、六便士和三便士的需求量很大，并以极高的价格出售给富有、具有历史意识的收藏家，”斯塔克鲍尔斯画廊 (Stack's Bowers Galleries) 副总裁维肯·耶格帕里安 (Vicken Yegparian) 说。

“The record for an NE coin is $646,250, but we expect this piece to handily exceed that level.”

“NE 币的记录是 646,250 美元，但我们预计这枚币将轻松超过该水平。”

During the bidding, which lasted for an intense 12 minutes, the coin’s price steadily increased and ultimately sold for $2.52 million.

在持续12分钟的激烈竞拍过程中，该币的价格稳步上涨，最终以252万美元的价格成交。

It became the most expensive non-gold U.S. coin that was created before the U.S. Mint was founded in 1792.

它成为 1792 年美国造币厂成立之前铸造的最昂贵的非金币。