Geneva 1771 3 pistoles Fr-261
This specimen was lot 5287 in Sincona sale 68 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 24,000 CHF (about US$31,596 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Geneva | Stadt und Kanton, Dreifache Pistole 1771, Genf. Sehr selten. Nur 1'910 Exemplare geprägt. Fast FDC. (city and canton of Geneva, triple pistole of 1771, Geneva mint. Very rare. Only 1'910 pieces struck, About uncirculated.)"
Whereas most of the Swiss cantons struck ducats when they chose to issue gold coins, the canton of Geneva issued pistoles 1722-24, 1752-72. The pistole was the common name for the Spanish two escudos (6.77 g) or the French louis d'or (8.14 g). This rare type was the only issue of a triple pistole.
Recorded mintage: 1,910.
Specification: 16.95 g, 0.920 fine gold; this specimen 17.04 g.
Catalog reference: KM 84, D.T. 1003, HMZ 2-336a. Fr-261.
- 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]Jürg Richter, Auction 68, Swiss Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.
Link to: