Geneva 1566-G ecu pistolet Fr-249
This specimen was lot 4152 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 4,000 CHF (about US$6,029 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Genf/Genève, Stadt und Kanton, Ecu pistolet 1566, Genf. Mzz. G. Gekrönter Doppeladler mit Genfer Wappen auf der Brust. In der Umschrift die Jahreszahl. Rv. Sonne mit Strahlen, im Zentrum Christusmonogramm. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. (Switzerland, city and canton of Geneva, écu pistolet of 1566, Geneva mint. Obverse: crowned double headed eagle with the city arms on its breast, date in legend; reverse: sunburst with Christ's monogram in the center. Rare in this condition. NGC MS62.)"
Friedberg lists this obscure type for 1562-86 and notes that the last écu pistolet was struck in 1642. This date has alternating straight and wavy rays emanating from the sun; on later dates, all the rays are wavy.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.31 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 3.24 g.
Catalog reference: Demole 512, HMZ 2-293e, Fr-249.
- 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, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 101: World Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Swiss Confederate Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Shooting Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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