Basel 1740 4 ducats Fr-63
This specimen was lot 4043 in Sincona sale 77 (Zürich, May 2022), where it sold for 48,000 CHF (about US$58,263 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Basel | Stadt und Kanton. 4 Dukaten 1740. Geprägt mit den Stempeln des Vierteltalers. Stempel von Johann Jakob Handmann. Die acht Vogteiwappen und BASILEA über der Stadtansicht mit Rheinbrücke in der Mitte, im Abschnitt die Jahreszahl über Füllhorn und Lorbeerzweig, sowie H (Johann Jakob Handmann). Rv. *DOMINE. CONSERVA. NOS. IN. PACE. Nach l. gewandter Basilisk hält ovales, verziertes Baslerwappen links. Von grösster Seltenheit. NGC MS63. (Switzerland, canton of Basel, quadruple ducat of 1740, struck with quarter thaler dies, engraved by John Jacob Handmann. Eight local shields and BASILEA over the city view with the Rhine bridge in the middle, date in exergue; reverse: a basilisk supports the city arms. Of the highest rarity, uncirculated.)"
All the gold coins of Basel are rare; this one is listed in the SCWC as a pattern, one of an extensive series (KM Pn7 thru Pn17) struck in 1740.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 13.80 g.
Catalog reference: KM Pn9, D.T. 767, HMZ 2-102c, Fr-63.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 77, World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction, Coins and Medals of Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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