Uri and Schwyz (1520) ducat Fr-409
This specimen was lot 21423 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $48,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "Possibly Unique Double-Shielded Gold Ducat. SWITZERLAND. Uri & Schwyz. Ducat, ND (ca. 1520). PCGS Genuine--Damage, VF Details Gold Shield. Obverse: + VRANIENSES ET SVITENSES, two keys crossed in saltire over imperial double eagle and two coats-of-arms; Reverse: S MARTINVS, St. Martin on horse trotting left, handing his coat to beggar below. An INCREDIBLY RARE and seemingly unique piece, this example parallels another extremely rare type struck for the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden, though while that issue features three shields--each representative of the three cantons--this specimen only features just two. As Swiss coinage has been rather extensively studied, the arrival of this type is nothing short of breath-taking in its importance and places it at the pinnacle of rarity and interest. Some flan waviness, rough spots, and moderate wear are noted, but nothing of note to detract from its majesty and assured enthusiasm. Ex: Stack's (1/2008) Lot # 3394." The "extremely rare type" quoted in the auction description is Fr-409, where we have filed this example. Friedberg did not cavil at combining two obscure and rare types into one catalog number.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 22 mm; 3.34 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-409; HMZ-Unlisted.
- 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.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
Link to: