Bern 1560 kreuzer
This specimen was lot 4096 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 375 CHF (about US$520 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Bern, Stadt und Kanton, Kreuzer 1560, Bern. Nach links schreitender Bär in einem Kreis unter kleinem nach links blickendem Adler. Rv. Einfaches Ankerkreuz in einem Kreis. Äusserst seltene Erhaltung. Gutes vorzüglich. Flaue Prägung. Exemplar der Auktion SINCONA 30, Zürich, Mai 2016, Los 3533. (Switzerland, canton of Bern, kreuzer of 1560, Bern mint. Obverse: Bear walking to the left in a circle under a small eagle facing left; reverse: Simple anchor cross in a circle. Extremely rare condition, About Uncirculated, Weakly struck.)"
This type was struck 1560-70, 1583-84, 1590, 1595-96. The reverse legend, "✥ BERCHT ∙ D ∙ ZERI ∙ COND", likely refers to Berthold V, last duke of Zähringen (r. 1186-1218). One thaler was sixty kreuzer, about to rise to 72 kreuzer.
Record mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.47 g, billon 20 mm diameter, this specimen 1.36 g.
Catalog reference: Lohner 797-805, HMZ 2-176b.
- 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 95: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 2 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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