Bern 1701-DB 4 ducats Fr-164
This specimen was lot 4110 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 32,000 CHF (about US$46,416 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Bern, Stadt und Kanton, 4 Dukaten 1701, Bern. Gekröntes Berner Wappen zwischen einem aufrechten Bären und Löwen. Darunter die Stempelschneiderinitialen "D B" für De Beyer. Rv. Sitzender Bär mit Kartusche, auf dieser Inschrift mit Wertbezeichnung und Jahreszahl. Unten ebenfalls die beiden Stempelschneiderinitialen "D B". Glatter Rand. Sehr selten. Vorzüglich-FDC. Kleine Kratzer. (Switzerland, city and canton of Bern, quadruple ducat of 1701, Bern mint. Obverse: the crowned city arms between an upright bear and lions; Below are the engraver's initials ("D B" for De Beyer). Reverse: A seated bear supports a cartouche, bearing the inscription with the denomination and date; Below, the two die cutter's initials "D B" are also shown. Smooth edge. Very rare, About Uncirculated, Small scratches.)"
The same dies were used for this four ducats, a five ducats (Fr-163) and a six ducats (Fr-162).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 13.83 g.
Catalog reference: KM 69, Lohner 56. D.T. 467c, HMZ 2-209i, Fr-164.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 98: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 3 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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