Unterwalden 1743 20 kreuzer
This specimen was lot 4351 in SINCONA Auction 98 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 500 CHF (about US$725 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Obwalden, 20 Kreuzer 1743, Sarnen. Ovales Wappen mit damasziertem Oberteil. Rv. Gekrönter Doppeladler mit Wertzahl auf der Brust. Sehr selten. Schön-sehr schön. Exemplar der Slg. Kunzmann, Auktion SINCONA 53, Zürich, Oktober 2018, Los 6582. (Switzerland, half canton of Obwalden, twenty kreuzer of 1743, Sarnen mint. Obverse: oval arms with damasqued top; reverse: crowned double headed eagle with the value on its breast. Very rare, Fine-Very 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 type was struck 1726-30, 1736, 1742-43 and was worth one-sixth of a convention thaler. KM 13 (shown here) has the date on the eagle side, KM 14 (struck until 1732) has the date on the shield side.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 3.94 g, silver, 26 mm diameter, this specimen 3.96 g.
Catalog reference: KM 13, Greter (SMK IV) 50a. D.T. 615e, HMZ 2-735t.
- 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: