Geneva (1540)-G teston
This specimen was lot 4194 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 2,500 CHF (about US$3,465 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Genf/Genève, Stadt und Kanton, Teston o. J. (um 1540), Genf. Mzz. G für Henry Goulaz, der ab 1539-1546 erstmals Münzmeister tätig war. Von grosser Seltenheit. Fast vorzüglich. Bearbeitet und Fassungsspuren. Die erste Grossilberprägung Genfs. (Switzerland, canton of Geneva, undated teston, circa 1540, Geneva mint, mintmark G. Henry Goulaz was the first mintmaster at Geneva and served 1539-46. Of high rarity, About Extremely Fine, Tooled and traces of mounting. This is the first large silver coin from the canton.)"
This undated type may have been struck any time during Goulaz's term. One thaler was 96 sols or three testons.
Record mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.3 g, silver, 28 mm diameter, this specimen 7.15 g.
Catalog reference: Demole 438, HMZ 2-296a.
- 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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