Unterwalden 1728 1/2 thaler
This specimen was lot 4335 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 5,500 CHF (about US$7,978 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Obwalden, Halbtaler 1728, Sarnen. Ovales Wappen in Kartusche, unten die Wertangabe. Rv. Stehender Heiliger Niklaus von Flüe mit Rosenkranz in den Händen. Gerippter Rand mit Mittellinie. Selten. Sehr schön. Leichte Prägeschwäche auf Avers. Exemplar der Slg. Zuberbühler, Auktion SINCONA 16, Zürich, Oktober 2013, Los 5792. (Switzerland, half canton of Obwalden, Sarnen mint. Obverse: oval arms in cartouche, value below; reverse: St. Nicholas standing with a rosary in his hands. Rare, Very Fine, Slightly weakly struck area on obverse.)"
Unterwalden was one of the three original cantons forming the Swiss Confederation in 1291. Far from the main channels of commerce, her coinage is scanty and rare. Unterwalden was divided into the "half cantons" of Obwalden and Nidwalden. This type was struck 1728 only.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 14 g, silver, 34 mm diameter, this specimen 14.02 g.
Catalog reference: KM 20, Greter-Stückelberger (SMK IV) 21. D.T. 608, HMZ 2-733a.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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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