Solothurn 1553 1/2 batzen

Sincona sale 95, lot 4442

This specimen was lot 4442 in Sincona sale 95 (Zurich, October 2024), where it sold for 425 CHF (about US$ including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"SCHWEIZ Solothurn, Stadt und Kanton, Halbbatzen 1553, Solothurn. Sehr schön. (Switzerland, canton of Solothurn, half batzen of 1553, Solothurn mint. 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 1.66 g.

Catalog reference: Simmen-HMZ (SMK VII) 31e, HMZ 2-827h.

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), Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2024.

Link to:

• 1552 half batzen
• Solothurn (1553-56) dicken
• 1553 thaler
• (15)66 half batzen
• Coins and currency dated 1553