Zurich (1560) goldkrone Fr-428
This specimen was lot 3732 in Sincona sale 64 (Zürich, June 2020), where it sold for 29,000 CHF (about US$36,337 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Zurich | Stadt und Kanton. Goldkrone o. J. Zürich. Doppeladler mit kleinem Schild. RESPVBLICA ° TIGVRINA °. Rv. Lilienkreuz. DOMINE SERVA NOS IN PACE. Äusserst selten. Fast FDC. Kleiner Kratzer, sonst prachtvolle Erhaltung. (city and canton of Zurich, undated gold crown, Zürich mint. Obverse: double headed eagle with small shield; reverse: floriate cross. Extremely rare, About uncirculated, Minor scratch, magnificent condition.)"
Altho the Swiss cantons had won de facto independence from the Empire by the late fifteenth century, the fact was not officially recognized until 1648, when the confederation left the empire by the treaties of Westphalia which ended the Thirty Years War. This rare type is mentioned in Friedberg but the weight standard is not given therein, so we don't know how this enigmatic coin stood in relation to the conventional ducat of 3.5 g nominal weight.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.35 g, gold, this specimen 3.35 g.
Catalog reference: Hürlimann 261, HMZ 2-1117b. Fr-428.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 64: Swiss Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2020.
- 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.
- 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.
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