Sitten (1499-1522) dicken
This specimen was lot 4507 in Sincona sale 83 (Zürich, May 2023), where it sold for 7,000 CHF (about US$9,368 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "Sitten, Bistum, Matthäus Schiner, 1499-1522. Dicken o. J., Sitten. Wappen mit Infeln, darüber Schwert, Mitra und Bischofstab. + MATHEVS . EPS . SEDV'. PRE'. ET . CO'. VA. Rv. Thronender Hl. Theodul mit Mitra und Nimbus, in der Linken ein Schwert, in der Rechten den Bischofstab. Unten rechts eine Glocke. S TEODO PAT' SEDV'. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Fast vorzüglich (bishopric of Sitten, Nicholas Schiner, 1499-1522, undated dicken, Sitten mint. Obverse: mitred arms over a crozier and sword; reverse: St. Theodul in miter and halo with bishop's staff and sword, a bell at his feet. Rare in this condition, About extremely fine). Exemplar aus SBV, Zürich, Auktion 30, Lot 602."Altho the Swiss cantons had won de facto independence from the Empire by the late fifteenth century, the fact was not officially recognized until 1648, when the confederation left the empire by the treaties of Westphalia which ended the Thirty Years War. The dicken was twelve kreuzer or one-third thaler.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 9.65 g.
Catalog reference: Palézieux 63, HMZ 2-1021a.
- Richter, Juerg, 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 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
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