Solothurn 1551 1/2 batzen

Sincona sale 95, lot 4440

This specimen was lot 4440 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 200 CHF (about US$277 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"SCHWEIZ Solothurn, Stadt und Kanton, Halbbatzen 1551, Solothurn. Variante mit dem hl. Ursus ohne Bart. Sehr selten. Schön-sehr schön. (Switzerland, canton of Solothurn, half batzen of 1551, Solothurn mint, variety with St. Ursus without beard. Very rare, Fine-Very Fine.)"

This type was struck 1549-53, 1560-61 and 1566-67 in numerous varieties. Numista states that one guldiner was 17 batzen; however, we don't know if the Solothurn guldiner was equal to the thaler or five-sixths.

Record mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.7 g, billon, 22.5 mm diameter, this specimen 1.54 g.

Catalog reference: Simmen-HMZ (SMK VII) 32, HMZ 2-827f.

Sources:

• 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 95: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 2 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.

Link to:

• Solothurn (1510) batzen
• 1549 half batzen
• 1552 half batzen
• 1553 thaler
• Coins and currency dated 1551