Zürich thaler

The cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy used a currency system consisting of based on the old unit of the Schilling, with the Schilling divided into 4 Rappen or 12 Haller. The Taler was a large silver coin equivalent to 72 Schilling or 2 Gulden that came into use in the 16th century. The Batzen was an intermediate coin equivalent to 2 Schilling or ​1⁄18 Gulden.

Zürich thaler
MONETA REIPUBLICÆ TIGURINÆ, oval city coat-of-arms supported by lions rampant DOMINE CONSERVA NOS IN PACE, view of city
1727 taler coin

Such Taler were minted in Zürich during the 16th to 18th centuries. It was replaced by the Frank of the Helvetic Republic in 1798. This was, in turn, replaced by the Zürich franc, or Neutaler, of 40 Batzen minted during 1806–1848.

The thaler was worth ​1⁄11 of a Cologne mark. Talers, with Doppeltaler and halbe Taler, were minted in Zürich first in the 16th century. First dated coins are Guilders minted in 1512. Taler coins consisted of 27 to 28 grams of silver, with a diameter of 39 to 43 mm.

In the late 18th century, silver coins were issued in denominations of 5, 10 and 20 Schilling, ​1⁄2 and 1 Taler. Zürich also minted gold half-ducats and ducats. A ten ducats coin minted in 1724, with a weight of 34.8 grams in gold, is in possession of the Swiss National Museum.

References
  • Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
  • Hans-Peter Capon: HMZ-Katalog Schweiz - Liechtenstein 15. Jahrhundert bis Gegenwarts. Zürich, 1995.
  • Zürich auf seinen Talern (moneymuseum.com)
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