View source for Bern 1796 8 ducats Fr-174

[[Image:Bern H3081-32329o.jpg|300px|thumb|Heritage sale 3081, lot 32329]]
[[Image:Bern H3081-32329r.jpg|300px|thumb|photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries]]

This specimen was lot 32329 in Heritage sale 3081 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $63,000. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "[[Switzerland]]: Immense Multiple Ducat Offering. [[Switzerland, Bern|Bern]]. Canton gold 8 Ducat 1796 MS62+ NGC. An extremely rare and extremely desirable multiple Ducat; the only example of this two-year type graded by PCGS or NGC, and surely one of the finest available to commerce. At first glance, one would be excused for believing this piece to be a Proof. Its fields evince significant reflectivity, sun-yellow and notably sleek with only scattered hairlines; this mirror effect backlights the well struck-up devices, the iconic Bern bear and its surrounding shield ever-so-slightly frosted. Careful examination with a loupe reveals a uniform crispness to the details, this piece clearly produced to a standard befitting its high denomination. Visually outstanding and a significant Swiss rarity." This type was struck 1796 and 1798 and is expensive. There is also 2 ducats (Fr-179), 4 ducats (KM 155.1) and 6 ducats (KM 156).

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 28 g, 0.986 fine gold.

''Catalog reference:'' KM 157, Fr-174, HMZ-2-204.

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Michael, Thomas, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016. 
* 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.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, ''Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3081, featuring the Caranett Collection,'' Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019. 

''Link to:''
* [[Bern 1789 2 ducats Fr-171|1789 double ducat]]
* [[Bern 1796 kreuzer]]
* [[Bern 1796 2 kreuzer|1796 2 kreuzer]] = half batzen
* [[Bern 1796 1/2 thaler|1796 half thaler]]
* [[Bern 1796 2 ducats Fr-179|1796 double ducat]]
* [[Bern 1796 4 ducats Fr-177|1796 quadruple ducat]]
* [[Bern 1796 6 ducats Fr-176|1796 6 ducats]]
* [[Bern 1796 duplone Fr-182|1796 duplone]]
* [[Bern 1796 2 duplone Fr-181|1796 double duplone, motto on reverse]]
* [[Bern 1797 8 ducats Fr-184|1797 8 ducats, struck using half thaler dies]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1796]]

[[Category:Selections from Heritage sale 3081]][[Category: Gold ducats of Europe]][[Category: Coinage of the Swiss cantons]]