Geneva 1724 pistole Fr-258
This specimen was lot 3266 in Sincona sale 64 (Zürich, June 2020), where it sold for 5,500 CHF (about US$6,892 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Geneva | Stadt und Kanton, Pistole forte 1724, Genf. Sehr selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Gereinigt. (canton of Geneva, pistole of 1724, Geneva mint. Very rare, Very fine-extremely fine, Cleaned.)"
This specimen was lot 4164 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 4,000 CHF (about US$6,029 including buyers' fees). Whereas most of the Swiss cantons struck ducats when they chose to issue gold coins, the canton of Geneva issued pistoles 1722-24, 1752-58, 1762, 1770, 1772. 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.64 g, 0.900 gold, this specimen 6.62 g.
Catalog reference: KM 70, D.T. 1004b, HMZ 2-337b. Fr-258.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 64: Swiss Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2020.
- 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.
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