Solothurn 1551 1/2 batzen
This specimen was lot 4440 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 200 CHF (about US$277 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Solothurn, Stadt und Kanton, Halbbatzen 1551, Solothurn. Variante mit dem hl. Ursus ohne Bart. Sehr selten. Schön-sehr schön. (Switzerland, canton of Solothurn, half batzen of 1551, Solothurn mint, variety with St. Ursus without beard. Very rare, Fine-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 1.54 g.
Catalog reference: Simmen-HMZ (SMK VII) 32, HMZ 2-827f.
- 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.
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