Sitten (1499-1522) quart
This specimen was lot 4535 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 100 CHF (about US$145 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Wallis/Valais, Sitten, Bistum, Matthäus Schiner, 1499-1522. Quart (Fünfer) o. J., Sitten. Umschrift im Revers mit ThEODOL'. Schön-sehr schön. Exemplar der Slg. Zuberbühler, Auktion SINCONA 16, Zürich, Oktober 2013, aus Los 6180. (Switzerland, canton of Valais, Matthias Schiner, 1499-1522, undated quart or funfer, Sitten mint. Reverse legend with ThEODOL'. Fine-Very Fine.)"
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, bishop Matthias 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. Numista records this denomination for Jost of Silinen, Niklaus Schiner, Matthaus Schiner (shown here) and Philipp de Platea. One thaler was 128 quarts.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 0.77 g, billon, 19 mm diameter, this specimen 0.73 g.
Catalog reference: Palézieux 33 var, HMZ 2-1026a.
- 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, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 98: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 3 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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