Basel (1795) 2 ducats Fr-68
This specimen was lot 5154 in Sincona sale 68 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 14,000 CHF (about US$18,431 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Basel | Stadt und Kanton, Doppeldukat o. J. (um 1795). Nach rechts blickender Basilisk mit ovalem Baslerwappen. Rv. Wertangabe auf einem Tuch, dahinter Hut auf Stange. Sehr selten. Fast FDC. Prachtvolle Erhaltung. (city and canton of Basel, undated double ducat (about 1795). Obverse: basilisk right supporting the city arms; reverse: a mantle bearing the denomination, hat above. Very rare, About uncirculated, Magnificent condition.)"
As the French Revolution proceeded and became more expansionist, domination of the decripit Swiss Confederation seemed to become inevitable. In 1798, revolutionary armies invaded and occupied Switzerland, establishing the Helvetic Republic. Constant unrest, triggered in part by the costs of the occupation, drained the treasury and in 1803 the republic collapsed. Napoleon intervened and restored the confederation but things were never the same. Eventually, in 1848, the Swiss organized the current constition and cantonal independence ended.
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: 7 g, 0.986 fine gold; this specimen 6.70 g.
Catalog reference: KM 189, D.T. 721, HMZ 2-91a. Fr-68.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Richter, Jürg, and Ruedi Kunzmann, Neuer HMZ-Katalog, Band 2: Die Münzen der Schweiz und Liechtensteins 15//16. Jahrhundert bis Gegenwart, Regenstauf, Germany: H. Gietl Verlag GmbH, 2006.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 68, Swiss Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.
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