Zürich struck thalers of this type sporadically through the latter eighteenth century, issuing them largely as trade and prestige pieces rather than for day-to-day commerce — the city's smaller denominations handled most circulation needs. By 1779 the Swiss Confederation remained a patchwork of competing cantonal monetary systems, and a well-struck Zürich thaler carried as much political weight as economic. The city-republic was fiercely protective of its minting rights, which dated to imperial grants of the medieval period.
Hürlimann documents this as a scarce subvariety within the 635 grouping, distinguished by minor die differences from the more frequently encountered 635e.
Zürich struck thalers of this type sporadically through the latter eighteenth century, issuing them largely as trade and prestige pieces rather than for day-to-day commerce — the city's smaller denominations handled most circulation needs. By 1779 the Swiss Confederation remained a patchwork of competing cantonal monetary systems, and a well-struck Zürich thaler carried as much political weight as economic. The city-republic was fiercely protective of its minting rights, which dated to imperial grants of the medieval period.
Hürlimann documents this as a scarce subvariety within the 635 grouping, distinguished by minor die differences from the more frequently encountered 635e.