Bern 1568 kreuzer
This specimen was lot 4098 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 1,500 CHF (about US$2,079 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Bern, Stadt und Kanton, Kreuzer 1568, Bern. Von grosser Seltenheit. Gutes sehr schön. Lohner schreibt auf S. 184: 'Da ich diesen Kreuzer erst nach zwanzigjährigem Suchen gefunden und denselben sonst in keiner Sammlung gesehen habe, so muss ich glauben, er sei sehr selten.' (Switzerland, canton of Bern, kreuzer of 1568, Bern mint. Of high rarity, Good Very Fine. Lohner writes of this issue, 'Since I only found this kreuzer after twenty years of searching and have never seen it in any other collection, I must believe it to be very rare.')"
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).
Record mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.47 g, billon, 20 mm diameter, this specimen 1.31 g.
Catalog reference: Lohner 836a=844, HMZ 2-176j.
- 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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