Bern 1659 20 kreuzer
The first specimen was lot 3324 in Sincona sale 18 (Zürich, May 2014), where it sold for CHF 200 (about US$264 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"20 Kreuzer 1659. Fast FDC. (canton of Bern, twenty kreuzer of 1659, choice uncirculated.)"
The second specimen was lot 2618 in Sincona sale 47 (Zürich, May 2018), where it sold for 120 CHF (about US$144 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"SWITZERLAND, Bern, Stadt und Kanton, 20 Kreuzer 1659. Gutes vorzüglich. Überprägungsspuren. (city and canton of Bern, twenty kreuzer of 1659. Good extremely fine, Overstruck.)"
In the predecimal system of Switzerland, four kreuzer = one batzen and forty batzen = one thaler, making this type of 1656-59 equal to one eighth of a thaler.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver or billon, the first specimen 4.86 g; the second specimen 4.78 g.
Catalog reference: D.T. 1139c, HMZ 2-194c; KM-27.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]Numismatic Coins, Medals, & Banknotes: Auction 18, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2014.
- [2]Richter, Jürg, Auction 47, World Coins and Medals, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2018
Link to: