Geneva 1578-G ecu pistolet Fr-249
This specimen was lot 1174 in Sincona Auction 100 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 15,000 CHF (about US$22,608 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Genf/Genève, Stadt und Kanton, Ecu pistolet 1578, Genf. (Rosette) GENEVA (Rosette) CIVITAS (Rosette) 1578 (Rosette) Der doppelköpfige, gekrönte Reichsadler mit dem Wappenschild auf der Brust. Rv. (Rosette) POST (Rosette) TENEBRAS (Rosette) LVX (Rosette) Sonne mit Strahlen, im Zentrum Christusmonogramm, oben das Münzzeichen G für den Münzmeister Charles Goulaz. Äusserst selten. NGC MS63. Prachtexemplar. (Switzerland, canton of Geneva, écu pistolet of 1578, Geneva mint. Obverse: crowned double headed eagle with arms on its breast; reverse: sunburst with the Christ monogram in the center, mintmaster's initial "G" at the top. Extremely rare, Cabinet piece.)"
Friedberg lists this obscure type for 1562-86 and notes that the last écu pistolet was struck in 1642. Earlier dates had alternating straight and wavy rays emanating from the sun; all the rays on this example are wavy.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.31 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 3.32 g.
Catalog reference: Demole 522, HMZ 2-293p (LP), Fr-249.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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 100: SINCONA Jubilee Auction, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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