Solothurn Ducat

The Solothurn Ducat's most intriguing trait is its consistent portrayal of Saint Ursus, the city's patron martyr, often depicted in armor with a palm frond, symbolizing his legendary stand against wild beasts.

These gold coins, struck by the Solothurn canton from 1600 to 1798, used high-purity alloy sourced from local mines or trade imports. Variations in design emerged over time, with some issues featuring the canton's arms alongside the saint. Mintage figures remain murky; records from that era were spotty, and many were destroyed in later conflicts.

Dies were hand-engraved, leading to subtle differences in detail that keep even seasoned collectors guessing. I've handled my share over the years—plenty of wear from circulation, but the gold holds its luster.

One oddity: the coins' edges were sometimes reeded to deter clipping, a practical touch that failed to stop enterprising thieves entirely. Pity the minters didn't foresee that.