Zurich 1526 thaler Dav-8772
The first specimen was lot 5656 in Sincona sale 4 (Zürich, October 2011), where it sold for 3,200 CHF (about US$4,257 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Zürich Stadt Guldiner 1526, sog. Kelchtaler. Von zwei Löwen flankiertes Zürcher Doppelwappen unter dem Reichswappen. Rv. Doppelter Wappenkreis mit dem Zürcher Stadtschild im Zentrum. Selten. Attraktives Stück. Besser als sehr schön. Der Name "Kelchtaler" rührt daher, dass bei der Ausprägung der Münze auch Kirchensilber eingeschmolzen und verwendet wurde. (Switzerland, city of Zürich, guldiner of 1526, the so-called "cup thaler." Obverse: Two lions support three shields; reverse: double circle of shields with the Zurich arms in the center. Rare, attractive, better than very fine. This coin derives its name from the church plate and vessels melted to provide the silver.)"
The second specimen was lot 5480 in Sincona sale 68 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 6,500 CHF (about US$8,557 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Zurich | Stadt und Kanton, Guldiner 1526, Zürich. Selten. (city and canton of Zurich, guldiner of 1526, Zürich mint. Rare. PCGS XF40.)"
Davenport notes this type for 1526 only. This is from the early period when gulden and thalers were still the same size. By the end of the century, the gulden had slipped to five-sixths of a thaler.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen 29,37 g.
Catalog reference: Hürlimann 426, HMZ 2-1122b, Dav-8772.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1484-1600, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1977.
- 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]UBS Auction 85: Gold and Silver Coins, Zürich: UBS AG, 2010.
- [2]Jürg Richter, Auction 66, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, featuring the Claude Stritt Collection, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.
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