Geneva 1722 pistole Fr-258
This specimen was lot 2545 in Sincona sale 90 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 17,000 CHF (about US$22,464 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Genf/Genève, Stadt und Kanton, Pistole forte 1722, Genf. Sehr selten. Vorzüglich-FDC. (Switzerland, canton of Geneva, heavy pistole of 1722, Geneva mint. Very rare, Extremely fine-uncirculated.)"
Whereas most of the Swiss cantons struck ducats when they chose to issue gold coins, the canton of Geneva issued pistoles in this style 1722-24. The pistole was the common name for the Spanish two escudos (6.77 g) or the French Louis d'or (8.14 g) but this coin corresponds to neither, being very close to a double ducat. The canton of Neuchâtel is also noted as having issued a (very rare) pistole. We don't know why this example's weight is so far below the standard given in the SCWC.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.64 g, 0.900 fine gold, .221 troy oz AGW, this specimen 6.71 g.
Catalog reference: KM 70, D.T. 1004a, HMZ 2-337a, Fr-258.
- 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 Auction 90, Münzen und Medaillen der Welt, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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