Geneva 1772 pistole Fr-262
This specimen was lot 4192 in Sincona sale 73 (Zürich, November 2021), where it sold for 16,000 CHF (about US$20,586 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Geneva | Stadt und Kanton. Pistole 1772, Genf. Genfer Wappen in Schildkartusche, darüber Sonne mit Christusmonogramm. Rv. Gekrönter, doppelköpfiger Reichsadler. Sehr seltener Jahrgang. NGC MS62. (Switzerland, canton of Geneva, pistole of 1772, Geneva mint. Obverse: cantonal arms, above, the "IHS" in a glory; reverse: crowned double-headed eagle. Very rare date.)"
Friedberg lumps this date with the previous type of 1752-70 even tho the reverse is very different. We concur with the SCWC, which assigns KM 77 to the earlier issue and KM 85 to this one year type, the last time this canton issued this denomination. The weight standard is taken from the SCWC as well but seems a little generous; we think 5.65 g (one third of the three pistoles) is more accurate.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.64 g, 0.900 fine gold; this specimen 5.68 g.
Catalog reference: KM 85, Demole 567. DT. 1006, HMZ 2-338i. Fr-262.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 73: World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction and World Banknotes, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2021.
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