St. Gall 1511 dicken
This specimen was lot 5477 in Sincona Auction 102 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 450 CHF (about US$678 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ. St. Gallen. Stadt und Kanton. Dicken 1511, St. Gallen. Selten. Gutes sehr schön. Der Stempelschneider hat beim Punzieren des Bären vermutlich im Bereich der beiden Hinterbeine nachbessern müssen, weshalb diese als Doppelschlag erscheinen. Da die restlichen Partien der Münze keine Spuren eines Doppelschlags aufweisen, hat dieses Merkmal nichts mit der Prägung der Münze zu tun. (Switzerland, canton of St. Gall, dicken of 1511, St. Gall mint. Rare, Good Very Fine. The die engraver likely had to make corrections when punching the bear motif, probably in the area of the two hind legs, which is why they appear as a double strike. Since the rest of the coin shows no signs of a double strike, this feature is unrelated to the minting process itself.)"
This type is noted for 1500-05 and 1509-13. The dicken, equal to 24 kreuzer, was at this time one third of a thaler. The reverse legend, "+SANCTUS*OTHMARVS*1504", cites St. Othmar, died 759, who was the first abbot of St. Gall. The abbey survived until 1805.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.6 g, silver, 30 mm diameter, this specimen 9.55 g.
Catalog reference: TZN 17l HMZ 2-887g.
- 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.
Link to: