Bern 1701-DB 5 ducats Fr-163
This specimen was lot 4003 in Sincona sale 73 (Zürich, November 2021), where it sold for 55,000 CHF (about US$70,763 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Bern | Stadt und Kanton. 5 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. Sehr selten. Vorzüglich-FDC. (Switzerland, canton of Bern, five ducats of 1701, Bern mint. Obverse: crowned cantonal arms supported by a bear and a lion, engraver's initials below; reverse: a sitting bear holds a cartouche with inscription, value and date. Very rare, Extremely fine-uncirculated.)"
This type was accompanied by a four ducats (KM 69) and a six ducats (KM 73). Confusingly, the SCWC shows for the 1701 five ducats the design used in 1710, with the figures shaking hands.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 17.50 g, 0.986 fine gold; this specimen 17.31 g.
Catalog reference: KM 70?, Lohner 45, D.T. 467b, HMZ 2-208g, Fr-163.
- 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, Jürg, Sincona sale 73: World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction and World Banknotes, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2021.
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