Lucerne Taler
Switzerland
1650–1798
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$67.17
Based on Silver spot price ($80.05/oz) · 90.0% purity · 29g
Updated 12:34 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Switzerland |
| Years Minted | 1650–1798 |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 29 g |
| Diameter | 44 mm |
| Shape | Round |
Design
Obverse
Features the coat of arms of Lucerne, typically including a lion and keys.
Reverse
Displays the denomination and date, often with heraldic symbols.
History & Notable Facts
The Lucerne Taler was often struck using silver recycled from melted Spanish reales and other foreign coins, a practical necessity in Switzerland's landlocked economy.
This made each coin a tangible link to international trade, even as Lucerne's cantonal mint focused on local symbols like the city's coat of arms—a blue shield with a white dying lion. Production spanned from 1650 to 1798, varying by year as demands shifted with wars and alliances. Some years saw crude strikes due to worn dies, while others featured crisp details that still surprise handlers today.
We don't know exact mintage figures; records from that era are spotty, with many lost to fires or neglect. As for counterfeits, they popped up in neighboring regions, underscoring the taler's popularity.
Oddly enough, these coins rarely turned up in Swiss folk tales, unlike their mythical counterparts elsewhere.
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