Bern (1772) 10 franken Fr-189
This specimen was lot 6073 in Sincona sale 81 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 24,000 CHF (about US$28,764 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Bern | Stadt und Kanton, 10 Franken o. J. (1772), Bern. Probe. Gekröntes Wappen auf einer geschweiften Kartusche in einem Lorbeerkranz. MON.AUR. REIP.BERN.. Rv. Die gekrönten und ligierten Buchstaben R B für Respublica Bernensis. BENEDICTUS SIT IEHOVA DEUS. Riffelrand. Von grosser Seltenheit. Nur 64 Exemplare geprägt. Vorzüglich-FDC. Doppelprägung und leicht gereinigt. (canton oF Bern, undated ten francs, circa 1772, Bern mint, pattern. Obverse: crowned arms in a cartouche, laurel wreath around; reverse: crowned monogram "RB" for the republic of Bern. Riffled edge. Of the highest rarity. Only 64 pieces struck, Extremely fine-uncirculated, Double struck and very lightly cleaned.)"
The SCWC attributes this pattern to 1785 but we will go with the auctioneers' estimate of the date. The franc or frank is not a denomination used in Switzerland before the French occupation of Napoleonic times. After the Congress of Vienna, the frank was ten batzen or one quarter of a thaler.
Recorded mintage: 64.
Specification: gold; this specimen 4.75 g.
Catalog reference: KM Pn18, Lohner 160. Richter (Proben) 1-211, D.T. 498, HMZ 2-214a, Fr-189.
- 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.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 81, the Max Walty-Hussy Collection: Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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