Zurich Coin List

The monetary history of Zurich during the time of the Swiss cantons is fascinating and reflects the political and economic evolution of the region. From the 13th century until the early 19th century, Zurich, as part of the former Swiss Confederation, minted its own coins, which served not only as a medium of exchange, but also as symbols of its autonomy and power.

Zurich's monetary system in the era of the cantons

During this period, Zurich used a monetary system based on the gulden, which was divided into schillings and pfennigs. The most common coins were silver thalers, gold ducats and various smaller denominations. The Zurich Mint, established in the 14th century, played a crucial role in the production of these pieces. Zurich coins often featured the canton's coat of arms, which showed a lion rampant, as well as Latin inscriptions affirming the authority of the local government. The quality and precious metal content of these coins were zealously controlled, which contributed to Zurich's reputation as a reliable financial center.

Influence and legacy of Zurich coins

Zurich coins circulated widely beyond the borders of the canton, being accepted in much of Switzerland and neighboring regions due to their consistent quality. This monetary success reflected and reinforced Zurich's growing economic importance in the confederation. Zurich's numismatic tradition also influenced the development of the Swiss franc, introduced in 1850 following the monetary unification of Switzerland. Many of the designs and minting techniques developed during the canton era were incorporated into the new national coins. Today, historic Zurich coins are highly valued by collectors and serve as important artifacts for understanding Switzerland's economic and political history.

The most valuable and popular coins

The most valuable Zurich 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.