Sitten 1778 batzen

Sincona sale 83, lot 5044

This specimen was lot 5044 in Sincona sale 83 (Zurich, May 2023), where it sold for 1,100 CHF (about US$1,472 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted, "SWITZERLAND Wallis/Valais, Franz Friedrich Ambüel, 1760-1780. Batzen 1778, Sitten. Sehr selten in dieser Erhaltung. Fast FDC (Switzerland, canton of Valais, bishopric of Sitten, Francis Frederick Ambuel, 1760-80, batzen of 1778, Sitten mint. Very rare in this condition, About uncirculated)." Sitten is Sion in French. The bishops struck several types of batzen in the eighteenth century (KM 27, KM 34 and KM 35), of which this type of 1776-78 is the last. Forty batzen = one thaler.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: billon, this specimen 2.30 g.

Catalog reference: KM 35, Palézieux 290. D.T. 978c, HMZ 2-1071d.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• Richter, Juerg, 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 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2023.

Link to:

• Bern 1776 batzen
• 1777 batzen
• 1777 6 kreuzer
• 1777 12 kreuzer
• 1777 20 kreuzer
• Bern 1778 4 kreuzer (batzen)
• Coins and currency dated 1778