Solothurn 1549 1/2 batzen
This specimen was lot 4430 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, Halbbatzen 1549, Solothurn. Wappen, oben damasziert zwischen S - O, darüber Adler nach links. Rv. Brustbild des hl. Ursus nach rechts, oben im Schriftkreis die Jahreszahl. Selten. Gutes sehr schön. Exemplar der Slg. Froidevaux, Auktion SINCONA 6, Zürich, Mai 2012, aus Los 2573. (Switzerland, canton of Solothurn, half batzen of 1549, Solothurn mint. Obverse: Damasqued arms between S and E, above eagle to the left. Reverse: Bust of St. Ursus to the right, date above. Rare, Good Very Fine.)"
This type is listed for 1549-53, 1560-61 and 1566-67. Varieties exist. 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: 1.7 g, billon, 22.5 mm diameter, this specimen 1.63 g.
Catalog reference: Simmen-HMZ (SMK VII) 31a (plate coin), HMZ 2-827a.
- 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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