Solothurn (1550-99) 1/2 thaler
This specimen was lot 5458 in Sincona Auction 102 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 7,000 CHF (about US$10,551 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ. Solothurn. Stadt und Kanton. Halbtaler o. J., Solothurn. Solothurner Wappen zwischen S - O, darüber Adler nach links. Rv. Hl. Ursus im Harnisch nach rechts. Von grosser Seltenheit. Sehr schön. (Switzerland, canton of Solothurn, undated half thaler, Solothurn mint. Obverse: arms divide "S O", eagle facing left above; reverse: armored St. Ursus facing slightly right. Of high rarity, very Fine.)"
Numista has attributed this undated issue to 1550-99. It is very similar to Dav-8749, an undated thaler. One thaler was sixty kreuzer in the early sixteenth century, later to rise to 72 kreuzer.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.4 g, silver, 35 mm diameter, this specimen 14.10 g.
Catalog reference: Simmen-HMZ (SMK VII) 43, HMZ 2-822a.
- 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 102: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 4 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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