Rheinau 1723 2 ducats Fr-356
This specimen was lot 1653 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 28,000 CHF (about US$42,672 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Zürich, Rheinau, Abtei, Gerold von Zurlauben, 1697-1735. Doppeldukat 1723, Zürich. Auf das goldene Priesterjubiläum des Abtes Gerold II. Zurlauben. Brustbild des Abtes nach rechts. GEROLDUS.II.ABB.RHENOV: Rv. Wappenkartusche mit Krummstab, Mitra und Schwert auf einer Sockelplatte, darunter die Jahreszahl. IUBILAEUS AETATIS.74.REGIMINIS.27. Münzmeister und Stempelschneider Hans Jakob I. Gessner in Zürich. Glatter Rand. Äusserst selten. Fast FDC. Prachtvolle Erhaltung. (Switzerland, abbey of Rheinau, Gerold von Zurlauben, 1697-1735, double ducat of 1723, Zürich mint, on his 50th anniversary of his ordination. Obverse: robed bust right; reverse: arms in cartouche, sword and crozier behind, date below. Plain edge, Extremely rare, About Mint State, Magnificent condition.)"
The abbey of Rheinau lies, as its name implies, on the river Rhine in the canton of Zurich near Schaffhausen. Coinage was sporadic and ceased after 1723. This double ducat, issued for the fiftieth anniversary of the abbot's ordination, shows the abbot's bust. Another double ducat (KM 6), features St. Fintan on the reverse. Copper and silver patterns exist.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.98 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 6.90 g.
Catalog reference: KM 7, D.T. 458, HMZ 2-1181aa (2026 edition), Fr-356.
- 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.
- 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, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 103: World and Swiss coins and medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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