Neuchatel 1788 1/2 batzen

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Sincona sale 95, lot 4372

This specimen was lot 4372 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 3,000 CHF (about US$4,158 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"SCHWEIZ Neuenburg/Neuchâtel, Könige von Preussen, Friedrich Wilhelm II. 1786-1797. Halbbatzen 1788, Neuchâtel. Gekröntes Wappen. F. G. BOR . REX . PR . SUP . NOVIC . & VAL . Ankerkreuz mit Blumenverzierung in den Feldern. Von grosser Seltenheit. Fast FDC. Die Ansicht, dass es sich um eine Probeprägung handeln könnte, muss in Frage gestellt werden, nachdem dieselbe Münze von einem anderen Vorderseitenstempel entdeckt wurde, bei welcher die Umschrift mit einem Punkt nach VAL endet (Froidevaux V347, ex Slg. Kunzmann). Exemplar der Auktion Münzen & Medaillen AG 79, Basel, März 1994, Los 936. (Switzerland, principality of Neuchâtel, half batzen of 1788, Neuchâtel mint. Of high rarity, About Mint State. The view that this could be a trial coin must be questioned after the same coin was discovered with another obverse die, where the inscription ends with a dot after VAL.)"

While the principality of Neuchâtel was long associated with the Swiss Confederation, it was under seigneurial 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. This half batzen or two kreuzer was struck 1788-94. The 1788 is a rare date and was long assumed to be a pattern; the regular issue is listed as KM 47. The reverse motto, "᛭ SUUM ᛭ 1788 ᛭ CUIQUE ᛭", translates as, "To each his own". One thaler = 160 kreuzer.

Record mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.7 g, silver, 21 mm diameter, this specimen 1.79 g.

Catalog reference: KM Pn13, Froidevaux V346 (this example pictured), D.T. 999 (as a pattern), HMZ 2-711a.

Sources:

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

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