Fribourg 1789 2 kreuzer

Sincona sale 87, lot 4074

This specimen was lot 4074 in Sincona sale 87 (Zurich, October 2023), where it sold for 375 CHF (about US$505 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"SCHWEIZ Freiburg/Fribourg, Halbbatzen 1789, Freiburg. Prachtvolle Erhaltung. FDC. Kleiner Schrötlingsfehler. (Switzerland, canton of Fribourg, half batzen of 1789, Fribourg mint. Magnificent condition, Uncirculated, Minor flan flaw.)"

This type was struck 1741, 1746, 1751-54, 1769-74, 1787-89, 1793, 1797-98. The 1789 is a common date. Two kreuzer made half a batzen. Whereas in most of the Swiss cantons 160 kreuzer made a thaler, in Fribourg 56 kreuzer made a gulden. In 1798, the armies of Revolutionary France invaded Switzerland and the old confederation collapsed. The Helvetic Republic was set up and the cantons reorganized.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: billon, this specimen 1.61 g.

Catalog reference: KM 47, D.T. 656o, HMZ 2-277z.

Source:

• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 87, World Coins and Medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• 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.

Link to:

• Fribourg 1774 2 kreuzer = ½ batzen
• Fribourg 1788 14 kreuzer = ¼ gulden
• 1798 2 kreuzer
• Coins and currency dated 1789