Lot 865
Switzerland -- Zürich. Silver Guldiner (Taler), 1512. Dav-8771; Divo-4; Hu-422. Three saints with heads in hands, date below. Reverse: Three shields crowned and supported by two lions in circle of 16 shields. Curious with three saints standing, holding their own decapitated heads. Very early dated taler. Rare and a delightful example. NGC graded AU-50.
Zurich ventured rather early to experiment with the large silver Guldengroschen, or Thaler-sized coins, which were becoming popular among European economic entities during the previous decade or two. Artistically speaking, new ventures in coinage, such as seen here, often get overburdened with too many civic trappings and symbolism. Switzerland's art at the time was every bit as conservative as north German art was then, if not more so. This produced for their new coin a quaint medieval style, richly decorative, with densely packed detail filling the abundant surfaces of these large silver coins.
Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000.
Ex John Story Jenks collection and M&M's 45th anniversary sale in 1971 (realized CHF 4300).
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| Realized $6,038 |
