Bern 1540 thaler Dav-8724
This specimen was lot 4091 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 17,000 CHF (about US$23,562 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Bern, Stadt und Kanton, Taler 1540, Bern. Gekröntes Reichswappen über zwei Berner Wappen. Das Ganze in einem doppelten Dreipass. Rv. Nach links blickender einköpfiger Adler im Zentrum. Im inneren Kreis die 12 Wappenschilde von Aarwangen, Erlach, Signau, Zofingen, Castelen, Grandson, Orbe, Schwarzenburg, Landshut, Aigle, Trachselwald und Huttwil. Im äusseren Kreis die 20 Wappenschilde von Zofingen, Aarau, Brugg, Lenzburg, Büren, Nidau, Aarberg, Bipp, Wangen, Aarburg, Unterseen, Interlaken, Aeschi, Frutigen, Weissenburg, Obersimmental, Oberhasli, Laupen, Burgdorf und Thun. Äusserst selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Exemplar der Auktion SINCONA 30, Zürich, Mai 2016, Los 3524. (Switzerland, canton of Bern, thaler of 1540, Bern mint. Obverse: Crowned imperial arms above two Bernese arms, the whole in a double trefoil. Reverse: Single-headed eagle looking left in the center, in the inner circle the 12 arms of Aarwangen, Erlach, Signau, Zofingen, Castelen, Grandson, Orbe, Schwarzenburg, Landshut, Aigle, Trachselwald and Huttwil. In the outer circle the 20 arms of Zofingen, Aarau, Brugg, Lenzburg, Büren, Nidau, Aarberg, Bipp, Wangen, Aarburg, Unterseen, Interlaken, Aeschi, Frutigen, Weissenburg, Obersimmental, Oberhasli, Laupen, Burgdorf and Thun. Extremely rare, Very Fine-Extremely Fine.)"
Davenport lists several varieties for this rare issue: Dav-8724 (double headed eagle, plain fields), Dav-8724A (double headed eagle, ornate fields), Dav-8724B (single headed eagle, plain fields, shown here), and Dav-8724C (single headed eagle, ornate fields). It is the last thaler struck in this canton in the sixteenth century. Half guldiners exist struck with these dies. All are rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 27.34 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-8724B, Lohner 174, HMZ 2-171d.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1484-1600, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1977.
- 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 94: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
Link to: