Sitten 1644 batzen
This specimen was lot 4557 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 80 CHF (about US$116 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Wallis/Valais, Sitten, Bistum, Adrian III. von Riedmatten, 1640-1646. Batzen 1644, Sitten. Fast sehr schön. Schrötlingsriss und Randfehler. (Switzerland, canton of Valais, Adrian III of Riedmatten, 1640-46, batzen of 1644, Sitten mint. About Very Fine, Flan crack and edge flaw.)"
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. The Riedmatten family contributed six bishops of Sion and controlled the diocese 1529-45, 1565-1613, 1640-1701. Coinage continued into the eighteenth century. This type is listed for 1644 only and was accompanied by a half batzen. A batzen was four kreuzer or 1/18 of a thaler.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 2.13 g, billon, 21 mm diameter, this specimen 2.37 g.
Catalog reference: KM 16, D.T. 1622, HMZ 2-1057a.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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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