Bern ND goldgulden Fr-108
The first specimen was lot 4087 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 10,000 CHF (about US$14,505 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Bern, Stadt und Kanton, Goldgulden o. J. (16. Jahrhundert), Bern. Seitlich eingebuchtetes Berner Wappen, darüber ein kleiner Doppeladler. Rv. Reichsapfel in Vierpass mit Lilien in den Winkeln. Glatter Rand. Äusserst selten. Gutes sehr schön. Mehrere Druckstellen und Kratzer. (Switzerland, city and canton of Bern, undated goldgulden of the sixteenth century, Bern mint. Obverse: The Bernese arms is indented on the sides, a small double-headed eagle above. The reverse shows an imperial orb in a quatrefoil with fleurs-de-lis at the angles, plain edge. Extremely rare, Good Very Fine, Several pressure marks and scratches.)"
The second specimen was lot 4113 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 9,500 CHF (about US$14,319 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Bern, Stadt und Kanton, Goldgulden o. J. (16. Jh.), Bern. Doppeladler über dem Berner Wappen. Umschrift antiqua "MONETA.AVR.BERNENSIS". Rv. Vierpass mit Verzierungen in den Kreuzwinkeln. In der Mitte Reichsapfel. Umschrift "FRIDERI.II.LIBERTA.AVTHOR+". Sehr selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Mögliche Henkelspur, gewellt und kleine Druckstellen. (Switzerland, canton of Bern, undated goldgulden from the sixteenth century. Obverse: double headed eagle over the Bernese arms; reverse: quadrilobe in cross, an orb in the center. Very rare, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Possible mount mark, wavy flan, some dents.)"
The goldgulden was originally equal to the ducat in the fifteenth century but gradually dropped in weight and fineness.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.17 g, 0.917 fine gold, 24 mm diameter, the first specimen 3.18 g, the second specimen 3.17 g.
Catalog reference: Lohner 7, HMZ 2-169b. Fr-108. The second specimen is Lohner 11.
- 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.
- 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.
- [2]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 101: World Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Swiss Confederate Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Shooting Coins and Medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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