Neuchatel 1807 batzen KM-69
This specimen was lot 4399 in Sincona sale 95 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 1,100 CHF (about US$1,525 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Neuenburg/Neuchâtel, Unter französischem Regime, Alexandre Berthier, Prince de Neuchâtel, 1806-1814. Batzen 1807, Neuchâtel. Variante mit UN BATZ. Gutes vorzüglich. Leichte Prägeschwäche bei der Jahreszahl. (Switzerland, principality of Neuchâtel, under French occupation, prince Alexander Berthier, 1806-14, batzen of 1807, Neuchâtel mint. About Uncirculated, Slightly weakly struck around the date.)"
The batzen was struck in two varieties in 1807: KM 65 ("I BATZ") struck 1807-08, and KM 69 ("UN BATZ", shown here) struck 1806-10. Alexandre Berthier (1753-1815) served as chief of staff to Napoleon Bonaparte from his first Italian campaign in 1796 until his first abdication in 1814. Berthier never visited Neuchâtel, where he was represented by a governor, although he was well acquainted with its affairs.
Record mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.22 g, billon, 24.5 mm diameter, this specimen 3.65 g.
Catalog reference: KM 69, Froidevaux V430, D.T. 255a, HMZ 2-722c.
- Divo, Jean-Paul, and Edwin Tobler, Die Münzen der Schweiz, im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, Zürich: Bank Leu & Co AG, 1969.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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), Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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