Unterwalden 1732 thaler Dav-1780
This specimen was lot 4344 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 6,000 CHF (about US$8,703 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Obwalden, Taler 1732, Sarnen. Ovales Obwaldnerwappen in Kartusche, die Jahreszahl teilend. Rv. Kniender Heiliger Niklaus von Flüe nach links, betend. Rankenverzierung im Abschnitt. Glatter Rand. Äusserst selten. Schön-sehr schön. Felder teilweise und Rand stark berarbeitet. (Switzerland, half canton of Obwalden, thaler of 1732, Sarnen mint. Obverse: cantonal arms in cartouche divide the date; reverse: St. Nicholas kneels left, praying, vines in the exergue. Plain edge. Extremely rare, Fine-Very Fine, Fields partially and edge heavily tooled.)"
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 1732 only and is rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 28 g, silver, 40-41 mm diameter, this specimen 28.39 g.
Catalog reference: KM 28, Dav-1780, Greter-Stückelberger (SMK IV) 18a. D.T. 607, HMZ 2-732b.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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.
Link to: