Solothurn (1556-60) 3 ducats Fr-385
This specimen was lot 1507 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 50,000 CHF (about US$76,200 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Solothurn, Stadt und Kanton, 3 Dukaten o. J. (1556-1560), Solothurn. .MONETA*SOLODORENS. Adler über Wappen, zu den Seiten S O. Rv. *SANCTVSªVRSVS:MART` Geharnischte Büste des heiligen Ursus nach rechts, dahinter ein kleiner Stern. Von grösster Seltenheit. Einziges bekanntes Exemplar. Fast vorzüglich. Exemplar der Auktion SINCONA 9, Zürich, Oktober 2012, Los 5484. (Switzerland, canton of Solothurn, undated triple ducat, circa 1556-60, Solothurn mint. Obverse: eagle over arms dividing "S O"; reverse: armored bust of St. Ursus right. Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen, About Extremely Fine.)"
This rare issue is listed in the SCWC using the Friedberg number. It was struck with half dicken dies.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 10.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 10.15 g.
Catalog reference: Richter (Proben) 1-696. HMZ 2-823f, Anm. Simmen 40a, var. Fr-385.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- 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, Jürg, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 103: World and Swiss coins and medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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