Dicken - Jost of Silinen

Jost of Silinen became Bishop of Sion in 1482 largely through the political maneuvering of the Swiss Confederates, who needed a cooperative figure controlling the Valais passes. His tenure was turbulent — he was eventually driven from the diocese by the Confederation itself in 1496, ending his rule abruptly and in exile. Coins struck under his authority span exactly that contested window.

The Dicken as a denomination was a relatively recent Swiss innovation at the time of this issue, first appearing in the 1470s as larger silver coinage gained traction across the Confederation.