Bern 1684 16 pfennig

Sincona sale 77, lot 4133

This specimen was lot 4133 in Sincona sale 77 (Zurich, May 2022), where it sold for 325 CHF (about US$395 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"SWITZERLAND | Bern | Stadt und Kanton. Sechzehnerpfennig 1684, Bern. Ovales, von zwei Bären gehaltenes Stadtwappen. Darunter die Wertangabe CR. 120. Rv. Schwert- und Zepterarm unter strahlender Sonne. Mit Randschrift. Selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Kratzer auf der Rückseite. (Switzerland, canton of Bern, sixteen pfennig of 1684, Bern mint. Obverse: city arms in an oval cartouche, value below; reverse: two arms, with a sword and scepter, under a shining sun. With edge lettering. Rare, Very fine-extremely fine, Scratches on reverse.)"

Every year at Easter, the top authorities in Bern were reappointed. The electoral body, which was also a constitutional body, was made up of the small council (senatus) and a sixteen-member committee of the large council. On March 30, 1666, the council decided to give up the electoral college's usual meal on the evening before Good Friday. Instead, these new sixteen pfennigs were handed out for the first time on Holy Thursday (before Good Friday) in 1667. These pieces are a cross between Maundy money and jetons and are between a gulden and a thaler in weight. They are not listed in the SCWC.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, this specimen 27.86 g.

Catalog reference: KM unlisted, Schweizer Medaillen 608.

Source:

• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• ^[1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 77, World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction, Coins and Medals of Switzerland, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2022..

Link to:

• 1700 sechzehnerpfennig
• Coins and currency dated 1684