Sitten (1497-99) dicken
This specimen was lot 5472 in Sincona sale 68 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 7,750 CHF (about US$10,203 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Wallis/Valais | Sitten, Bistum, Nikolaus Schiner, 1497-1499. Dicken o. J. Sitten. Wappen mit Inful, darüber Schwert, Mitra und Bischofstab. + NICOLAV'+ EPS + SEDV'+ PRE + ET + CO' + VA. Rv. Stehender Hl. Theodul mit Mitra und Nimbus, in der Rechten ein Schwert, in der Linken den Bischofstab nach rechts gewandt, schaut auf den Teufel mit Glocke hinab. ° ° S [2 Ringel übereinander] THEO ° EPS [2 Ringel übereinander] SEDV'. Sehr selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Henkelspur? (canton of Valais, bishopric of Sitten, Nicholas Schiner, 1497-99, undated dicken, Sitten mint. Obverse: arms with sword, miter and bishop's staff; reverse: St. Theodul with miter and halo, sword in the right hand and bishop's staff in the left. Very rare, Very fine-extremely fine, Mount mark?)"
The bishopric of Sitten (Sion in French) encompassed most of what is now the canton of Valais. The bishops involved themselves in the petty feuds and struggles of the day, going so far as to participate in the battle of Marignano (1515). They successfully resisted the Reformation but were forced to cede their secular power in 1630. Coinage continued into the eighteenth century.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.7 g, silver, 30 mm diameter, this specimen 9.71 g.
Catalog reference: Palézieux 22/23, HMZ 2-1017a (plate coin).
- 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]Jürg Richter, Auction 68, Swiss Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.
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