Bern (1570) 12 kreuzer
This specimen was lot 5086 in Sincona Auction 102 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 950 CHF (about US$1,432 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Bern, Stadt und Kanton, Halbdicken o. J. (um 1570), Bern. Selten. Fast vorzüglich. (Switzerland, city and canton of Bern, undated half dicken, circa 1570, Bern mint. Rare, About Extremely Fine.)"
This type was struck undated. Numista attributes it to before 1564. Half a dicken was twelve kreuzer or one fifth gulden. We don't know the significance of the "X" above the bear. The reverse legend, "+ BERCH∙D∙ZERI∙CONDIT", likely refers to Berthold V, last duke of Zähringen (r. 1186-1218).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.95 g, billon, 25 mm diameter, this specimen 4.12 g.
Catalog reference: Lohner 414, HMZ 2-173b.
- 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, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 102: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 4 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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