Unterwalden 1743-IH 20 kreuzer
This specimen was lot 5412 in Sincona Auction 102 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 700 CHF (about US$1,055 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ. Obwalden. 20 Kreuzer 1743, Sarnen. Kniender hl. Bruder Niklaus von Flüe nach rechts, in den gefalteten Händen einen Rosenkranz, unten im Abschnitt Stempelschneidersignatur . I.H . (Johann Haag). Rv. Vier Zeilen Schrift in Palmblatteinfassung, ganz unten Wertzahl 20. Glatter Rand. Sehr selten. Kratzer. Vorzüglich. (Switzerland, half canton of Obwalden, twenty kreuzer of 1743, Sarnen mint, variety with kneeling St. Nicholas of Flüe right, holding a rosary; reverse: four inscription in palm wreath, value below. Plain edge, very rare, Scratches, Extremely Fine.)"
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 twenty kreuzer, featuring the praying St. Nicholas von Flüe, is rare. The reverse inscription, "ET/SERVUS MEUS/ORABIT", is taken from Job 42:8 ("And My servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept"). St. Nicholas appeared on a similar forty kreuzer and ducat.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.52 g, silver, 22 mm diameter, this specimen 5.83 g.
Catalog reference: KM 31, Greter (SMK IV) 51/89. D.T. 618. Richter (Proben) 1-644, HMZ 2-735u (this example pictured).
- 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, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 102: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 4 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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