Neuchatel (1666) 1/2 kreuzer
The first specimen was lot 4322 in Sincona sale 73 (Zürich, November 2021), where it sold for 525 CHF (about US$676 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Neuenburg/Neuchâtel | Fürsten von Neuchâtel. Anne-Geneviève de Bourbon, 1663-1668. Vierer (Halbkreuzer) o. J. Neuchâtel. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Gutes sehr schön. (Switzerland, principality of Neuchatel, Anne-Geneviève de Bourbon, 1663-68, undated vierer or half kreuzer, Rare in this condition, Good very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 4317 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 325 CHF (about US$472 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Anne-Geneviève de Bourbon, 1663-1668. Vierer (Halbkreuzer) o. J. (1666), Neuchâtel. Selten. Gutes sehr schön. Exemplar der Slg. Zuberbühler, Auktion SINCONA 16, Zürich, Oktober 2013, Los 5763. (Switzerland, principality of Neuchâtel, Anne Genevieive of Bourbon, 1663-68, undated vierer or half kreuzer, circa 1666, Neuchâtel mint. Rare, Good Very Fine.)"
This scarce type is attributed to 1666 by the SCWC. Numista shows 13 varieties, commenting, "Mint master Nicolas Wittnauer produced more than 200 000 copies with multiple dies at the end of his career, often of poor quality and difficult to read.". While the principality of Neuchâtel was long associated with the Swiss Confederation, it was under monarchical rule rather than oligarchic rule as in the other cantons. French aristocrats ruled until Marie de Nemours's death in 1707, then under Prussian rule 1707-1806, then part of Napoleon's empire, then Prussian again 1815-57, whereupon it was merged completely into Switzerland. The reverse motto, "OCVLI·DO[MINI]·ET·PA[X]·SVP[ER]·IVST[OS] *", translates as The eyes of the Lord are on peace and the righteous (Psalms 34:15). One écu = 84 kreuzer.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.52-0.60 g, billon, 16 mm diameter, the first specimen 0.60 g, the second specimen 0.61 g.
Catalog reference: KM 24, D.T. 1646, HMZ 2-690a. The second specimen Froidevaux V238, D.T. 1646, HMZ 2-690a.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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 sale 73: World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction and World Banknotes, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2021.
- [2]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 98: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 3 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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