Geneva Coin List
The city-state of Geneva in Switzerland was an important political and economic center during the period of the Swiss cantons. Its numismatic history reflects its autonomy and relevance in the region, with a series of distinctive coinages spanning several centuries.
Early coinage and monetary development
Geneva's earliest coins date from the 14th century, when the city obtained the right of minting. Silver "deniers" and "obols" were the first issues, followed by higher value coins such as "sols" and "florins". As Geneva gained prominence, its monetary system became more sophisticated. In the 16th century, the city began minting gold coats of arms, reflecting its growing wealth and status. These coins often featured the imperial eagle and key, emblematic symbols of Geneva, along with Latin inscriptions proclaiming the city's authority.
Influence of the Reformation and period of independence
The Protestant Reformation had a significant impact on Geneva's coinage. Under the influence of John Calvin, coins began to display religious mottoes and more austere motifs. The Geneva thaler, introduced in the 17th century, became an important trade coin in the region. During its period of independence, before joining the Swiss Confederation in 1815, Geneva continued to mint its own coins, including unique pieces such as the "genevoise". These coins not only served as a medium of exchange, but were also a statement of the city's autonomy and cultural identity, often depicting scenes of civic life and symbols of freedom.
The most valuable and popular coins
The most valuable Geneva coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins list has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Old coins of Swiss cantons
To facilitate their classification, we have decided to organise the coins according to their historical period, you can consult the coins by historical numismatic categories of Swiss cantons.
Aargau Appenzell Basel Bern Beromuenster Chur Disentis Einsiedeln Fischingen Freiburg Geneva Glarus Graubunden Haldenstein Laufenburg Lausanne Luzern Muri Neuchatel Reichenau-Tamins Rheinau Saint Gallen Schaffhausen Schwyz Sitten Solothurn Thurgau Ticino Unterwalden Uri Vaud Zoefingen Zug ZurichCoin Catalog
Suiza-Cantones | 1 sol
Suiza-Cantones | 10 céntimos
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Swiss cantons
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