Geneva 1785 6 deniers
This specimen was lot 3285 in Sincona sale 91 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 3,600 CHF (about US$4,757 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Genf/Genève, Stadt und Kanton, 2 Quarts (1/2 Sol oder 6 Deniers) 1785, Genf. Goldabschlag. Äusserst selten. Fast FDC. (Switzerland, canton of Geneva, two quarts (or half sol or six deniers) of 1785, Geneva mint, struck in gold. Extremely rare, About uncirculated.)"
The second specimen was lot 5244 in Sincona Auction 102 (Zürich, October 2025), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Genf/Genève, Stadt und Kanton, 2 Quarts (1/2 Sol oder 6 Deniers) 1785, Genf. Silberabschlag. Selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Switzerland, city and canton of Geneva, two quarts or half sol of 1785, Geneva mint, struck in silver. Rare, Very Fine-Extremely Fine.)"
This type was struck in billon intermittently 1754-88 and is common. Silver and gold strikes exist, made for presentation. One thaler was 96 sols and one sol was four quarts.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.74 g, billon, 16 mm diameter, the first specimen gold, 1.53 g. The second specimen is silver, 0.88 g.
Catalog reference: KM 79 (billon), KM 79a (silver), KM 79b (gold), Demole 130, D.T. 1026l, Anm, Richter (Proben) 1-384 (plate coin), HMZ 2-351w, Anm. The second specimen is Richter (Proben) 1-386 (this example).
- 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 91, The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 1 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
- [2]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 102: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 4 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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