View source for Bern 1681-D 20 ducats Fr-127a

[[Image:S68-05172.jpg|550px|thumb|Sincona sale 68, lot 5172]]

This specimen was lot 5172 in Sincona sale 68 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 400,000 CHF (about US$526,600 including buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''SWITZERLAND | Bern | Stadt und Kanton, 20 Dukaten 1681, Bern. Gekröntes Stadtwappen in reich verzierter Kartusche. Unten D für den Stempelschneider David Dick. Zu den Flanken je ein Löwe und ein Bär. Rv. Dreizeilige Inschrift mit der Jahreszahl und der Wertangabe 20 DVCAT in einer reich verzierten Kartusche. Die Zahl 2 wurde über die 1 geschlagen. In der Mitte oben D für den Stempelschneider David Dick. Glatter Rand. Von grösster Seltenheit, bis dato einziges bekanntes Exemplar. Fast FDC. Prachtvolle Erhaltung.'' (city and canton of Bern, twenty ducats of 1681, Bern mint. Obverse: city arms supported by a bear and a lion, mintmaster "D" below; reverse: three line inscription with date and value. Smooth edge. Of the highest rarity and the only specimen known so far, About uncirculated, Magnificent condition.)"</blockquote> Almost certainly struck for presentation, this coin realized the second highest price we have ever seen for a Swiss coin. We note a thirty ducats ([[Basel (1700-10) 30 ducats Fr-31a|Fr-31a]]) which sold for 725,000 CHF in 2015.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 70 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 68.98 g.

''Catalog reference:'' KM 60, Lohner - (nur als 10 Dukaten). D.T. 1108, var. (dort nur als 8, 10 & 12 Dukaten). Richter 1-163. Fr-127a, HMZ 2- (fehlt). 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* 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.
* Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
* 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.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Jürg Richter, ''Auction 68, Swiss Coins, Medals and Banknotes,'' Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.

''Link to:''
* [[Bern 1679 thaler Dav-4618|1679 thaler]]
* [[Bern 1679-G thaler Dav-4620|1679-G thaler]]
* [[Bern 1679-V thaler Dav-4619|1679-V thaler]]
* [[Bern 1679 ducat Fr-126|1679 ducat]]
* [[Bern 1679 2 ducats Fr-125|1679 double ducat]]
* [[Bern 1680 1/2 kreuzer|1680 half kreuzer (vierer)]]
* [[Bern 1680 1/4 thaler|1680 quarter thaler]] = 10 batzen
* [[Bern 1680 3 ducats Fr-132]]
* [[Bern 1680 4 ducats Fr-131|1680 4 ducats]]
* [[Basel (1680-1700) 2 ducats Fr-85]]
* [[Bern (1680-1720) 10 ducats Fr-140]]
* [[Bern 1680 3 ducats Fr-132|1680 triple ducat]]
* [[Bern (1681) 15 ducats Fr-140|(1681) 15 ducats]]
* [[Bern 1681 10 ducats Fr-129|1681 10 ducats]]
* [[Bern 1684-B 3 ducats Fr-132|1684 triple ducat]]
* [[Basel (1700-10) 30 ducats Fr-31a]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1681]]
* return to coins of [[Switzerland, Bern|Bern]]

[[Category:Gold ducats of Europe]][[Category:Coinage of the Swiss cantons]][[Category:Selections from Sincona sale 65, 66, 67, 68]]