Solothurn (1510) batzen
This specimen was lot 4429 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 300 CHF (about US$435 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Solothurn, Stadt und Kanton, Batzen o. J. (nach 1510), Solothurn. Spanisches Wappen zwischen gotischen S - O, die obere Hälfte damasziert. S-förmiges Münzzeichen und Sternchen links des Wappens. Oben ein Adler nach links. Rv. Ankerkreuz, in den Feldern je eine Lilie mit Sternchen darunter, in der Umschrift ebenfalls S-förmiges Münzzeichen. Selten. Sehr schön. (Switzerland, canton of Solothurn, undated batzen, circa 1510, Solothurn mint. Obverse: Spanish coat of arms between Gothic S-O, the upper half damasqued. S-shaped mintmark and asterisk to the left of the coat of arms. Above, an eagle facing left. Reverse: Anchor cross cantoned with four fleurs-de-lis with asterisks and an S-shaped mintmark in the inscription. Rare, Very Fine.)"
Numista states that one guldiner was 17 batzen; however, we don't know if the Solothurn guldiner was equal to the thaler or five-sixths.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 2.5-2.65 g, silver, 27-28 mm diameter, this specimen 3.22 g.
Catalog reference: Simmen-HMZ (SMK VII) 36, HMZ 2-825b.
- 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.
Link to: