Bern 1793 4 kreuzer
The first specimen was lot 3073 in Sincona sale 59 (Zurich, October 2019), where it sold for 150 CHF (about US$182 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Bern | Stadt und Kanton, Batzen 1793, Bern. FDC. Prachtvolle Erhaltung. (Switzerland, canton of Bern, batzen of 1793, Uncirculated, Magnificent condition.)"
The second specimen was lot 5179 in Sincona sale 68 (Zurich, October 2020), where it sold for 150 CHF (about US$198 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Bern | Stadt und Kanton, Batzen 1793, Bern. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. FDC. (city and canton of Bern, batzen of 1793, Bern mint. Rare in this condition, Uncirculated.)"
The third specimen was lot 3206 in Sincona sale 70 (Zurich, May 2021), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Bern | Stadt und Kanton. Batzen 1793, Bern. FDC. (Switzerland, city and canton of Bern, batzen of 1793, Bern mint. Uncirculated.)"
Bern, one of the cantons of Switzerland, struck coins fairly steadily throughout the eighteenth century altho thalers are scarce. The coinage was interrupted by Napoleonic occupation but resumed in 1817. In 1839, the coinage was decimalized to 100 centimes = one franc and one, two, four, ten and twenty-five centimes were issued, all in billon. This type was struck 1717, 1754 and 1765-98 and this is a common date. Four kreuzer = 1 batzen = 1/40 of a thaler. In 1848, Bern was incorporated into the reformed Swiss Confederation and coinage for the individual cantons ceased.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: billon, the first specimen 2.32 g; the second specimen 2.41 g, the third specimen 2.30 g.
Catalog reference: KM 87, D.T. 524n, HMZ 2-223m.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 59: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2019.
- [2]Jürg Richter, Auction 68, Swiss Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2020.
- [3]Jürg Richter, Auction 70, Swiss Coins and Medals and Rarities in Gold, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2021.
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