Bern (1681) 15 ducats Fr-140
This specimen was lot 6063 in Sincona sale 81 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 210,000 CHF (about US$251,685 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Bern | Stadt und Kanton, 15 Dukaten o. J. (um 1681), Bern. Gekröntes Stadtwappen in reich verzierter Kartusche. Unten der Buchstabe D für den Stempelschneider David Dick. Zu den Flanken je ein Löwe und ein Bär. Umschrift MONETA REIPVBLICAE BERNENSIS. Rv. Stadtansicht mit der Münsterkirche in der Mitte. Im Vordergrund die Aare mit dem Inselbad und der Schwellenmatt. Oben das ovale Stadtwappen in den Wolken, im Abschnitt BERNA. Glatter Rand. Wohl Unikat. Vorzüglich-FDC. Feine Kratzer auf der Rückseite. (canton of Bern, undated 15 ducats, circa 1681, Bern mint. Obverse: crowned city arms in quartered cartouche, flanked by a lion and a bear; reverse: city view with the city church in the midst and an island in the Aare river in foreground. Plain edge, Most probably unique, Extremely fine-uncirculated, Fine scratches on the reverse.)"
This fifteen ducats is unlisted in all the major references, each of which mention a ten ducats struck from the same dies.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 52.35 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 52.06 g.
Catalog reference: Lohner 28 (listed as a ten ducat). Rickli 10 (listed as a ten ducat). Fr-140 (listed as a ten ducat).
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Richter, Juerg, 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]</supRichter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 81, the Max Walty-Hussy Collection: Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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