Lausanne (1517-36) denier

Sincona sale 95, lot 4563

This specimen was lot 4563 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 400 CHF (about US$555 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"SCHWEIZ Lausanne, Bistum, Sebastiano di Monfalcone, 1517-1536. Denier o. J., Lausanne. Rundes Wappen, die ganze Fläche ausfüllend. REGINA... Rv. Blumenkreuz. AVE GRACIA P... . Sehr selten. Fast sehr schön. (Switzerland, bishopric of Lausanne, Sebastiano di Monfalcone, 1517-36, undated denier, Lausanne mint. Obverse: Round coat of arms, filling the entire surface; reverse: floriate cross. Very rare, About Very Fine.)"

The bishop of Lausanne ruled his diocese from the late thirteenth century until the 1530's when it went over to the Reformation. The Sovereign Council of Bern secularized the bishopric in 1536 and bishop Sebastiano fled. It is now part of the canton of Vaud.

Record mintage: unknown.

Specification: 0.87 g, billon, 16 mm diameter, this specimen 0.78 g.

Catalog reference: Dolivo (SMK II) 99b, HMZ 1-536c (this coin pictured).

Sources:

• 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 95: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 2 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.

Link to:

• Lausanne (1462-66) denier, Guillaume de Varax
• Coins and currency dated 1517