Rheinau Coin List

The Rheinau era in Switzerland was a fascinating period in the numismatic history of the Swiss cantons. During this time, Rheinau Abbey, located in the canton of Zurich, played a crucial role in coinage and the local economy. Rheinau coins are silent witnesses to an era of political and economic change in the region.

Rheinau Abbey and its monetary influence

The Benedictine abbey of Rheinau, founded in the 8th century, obtained the right to mint coins in the 11th century, a privilege granted by the Holy Roman Empire. This right allowed the abbey to issue its own coins, known as "Rheinau pfennigs", which circulated widely in the region. These coins, usually of silver, featured religious designs and symbols of the abbey, reflecting the importance of the ecclesiastical institution in the economic and social life of the time. The quality and consistency of Rheinau coins contributed to their acceptance beyond the boundaries of the canton, making them a reliable medium of exchange in much of Switzerland and neighboring regions.

Evolution and legacy of Rheinau coins

Over the centuries, Rheinau coins underwent changes in design and composition, reflecting the political and economic transformations in Switzerland. With the formation of the Helvetic Confederation and the subsequent centralization of the Swiss monetary system, the minting right of the Rheinau Abbey was gradually curtailed. However, Rheinau coins continued to circulate and be treasured, becoming valuable collector's items for numismatists and historians. Today, these coins are considered important historical artifacts that provide valuable information about the medieval Swiss economy, the power relations between religious and secular institutions, and the evolution of the monetary system in the Swiss cantons. The study of Rheinau coins remains a fertile field for research, offering new insights into the financial and cultural history of Switzerland.

The most valuable and popular coins

The most valuable Rheinau 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.

Coin Catalog

Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Swiss cantons

Can't find what you are looking for? Take a look at our coin finder and speed up your searches within the collections of all collectors, or if you prefer you can search directly in the list of coin collectors and access their profile to see their collections.