We are delighted to welcome our clientele to our new, historic address in the heart of Solothurn from 1 September 2026. We are moving into our new premises in the well-known Müllerhof at St. Niklausstrasse 1. For our clients, this step ideally combines Solothurn’s traditional architecture with contemporary comfort, and perfectly reflects Lugdunum’s vision of an elegant, historic, and tradition-conscious approach to numismatics. To ensure we can dedicate sufficient time to your individual requirements, viewings and consultations at our new premises will continue to be by prior appointment only.

Historic charm meets modern comfort

The Müllerhof looks back on a rich, centuries-old history. This listed historic ensemble, which is deeply interwoven with the history of the town of Solothurn, originated as a Baroque country estate built from 1570 onwards. For a long period, the prominent property was known as the Cartierhof, shaping the townscape as a stately residence just outside the inner town walls. In 1692, it underwent a significant conversion into a so-called Türmlihaus (turret house), whose architectural charm and historic elegance can still be felt throughout our premises today.

When visiting us, our traditional building offers highly practical advantages for our clients:

• Central Location: Easily accessible in the centre of Solothurn.
• Convenient Arrival: Our private, on-site parking spaces are available directly at the building.
• Accessibility: Despite the building’s profound historic character and heritage protection, it features a modern lift.

Our vibrant hub for Numismatics

The Baroque country estate provides us with ample space far beyond daily business operations. A particular highlight is our in-house auction room, where future sales will be conducted live on-site.

Furthermore, we wish to establish a new forum here for collectors and investors. We are planning a regular series of lectures covering various topics:

• History & Numismatics: In-depth insights into historical eras and coinages.
• Regulations & Law: Up-to-date information on the legal frameworks governing the art and coin trade.
• Investment: Sound analyses of precious metals and numismatic assets as a form of investment.

Invitation for consignments to the coming Auction in December 2026

Our relocation simultaneously marks the beginning of the preparations for our next auction: The Lugdunum Auction 26 will take place in December 2026 – as our very first in-house auction in our new saleroom.

We invite you to take this opportunity to present your individual pieces or entire coin collections to an international circle of buyers. Consignments for Auction 26 are now being accepted. We look forward to welcoming you to the Müllerhof from 1 September 2026, by prior appointment, for a personal consultation and valuation.

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Contact & Consignments – by appointment only

Lugdunum GmbH
Müllerhof
St. Niklausstrasse 1
4500 Solothurn / Switzerland

eMail: info@lugdunum-numismatik.com
phone +41 (0)32 554 03 30

The post Our New Premises with History and Charm first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

The Basel coin fair is a traditional meeting place for collectors from Switzerland and from our European neighbours. I will be at the fair and look forward to seeing you there!

Schedule: Sunday, 8. February 2026 / 09:00-16:00
Location: Congress Center Basel, Messegelände, 4005 Basel

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More coin fairs in Switzerland and abroad

The post Basel coin fair 2026 first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

11 characteristics that make a coin valuable

Determining the value of a collector’s coin is a complex matter.
In this video I will present you some important characteristics that make a coin valuable and describe their context in the market.

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These are the 11 characteristics I am presenting in the video:

Characteristic number 1: Authenticity
Is the coin genuine?

Characteristic number 2: Condition
How long has the coin been in circulation?

Characteristic number 3: Rarity
How many specimens of the coin where minted or are available on the market?

Characteristic number 4: Quality
Has the coin been produced with high quality production standards?

Characteristic number 5: Historical Importance
Has the coin been issued by a famous historical figure?

Characteristic number 6: Provenance
Is the history of ownership of the coin known and published?

Characteristic number 7: Diameter or size
Can the beauty of the coin be admired without a magnifying glass?

Characteristic number 8: Material
What is the material content of the coin?

Characteristic number 9: Workmanship
Has the coin been produced with highly polished planchets or dies?

Characteristic number 10: Design
Does the coin bear a design of great beauty?

Characteristic number 11: Trends
Does the coin respond to actual trends in the coin market?

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It takes a lot of experience to correctly estimate the value of a coin. Therefore, if you need the assistance of a numismatic advisor, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to answer your questions.

With my best regards,
Dr. Jonas Emmanuel Flueck

The post Coin value – video first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

Our Lugdunum Auction 25 will take place on Tuesday, 9 December 2025 in Solothurn, Switzerland. Location: Hotel H4**** Solothurn – Schänzlistrasse 5

For more details regarding the lots, please visit The Lugdunum Auction 25 page

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to help.
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We thank you for your interest and look forward to welcoming you on 9 December, either in person or online!

The post The Lugdunum Auction 25 first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

We are very happy to offer a complete collection of Chinese Gold Panda coins (1982-2007) in our upcoming Auction, The Lugdunum Auction ’25 taking place on Tuesday, 9th December 2025. In auction are all denominations issued in the years 1982 – 2007. All coins are of CHOICE MINT STATE quality as they still are in the original sealed packaging that never have been opened.

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Introduced in 1982, the .999 pure Chinese Gold Panda series quickly became a staple among coin collectors and numismatists. The Gold Panda stands out as an innovative bullion coin, being the first of its kind to feature a new reverse design every year.

During its inaugural year, the People’s Republic of China released 16,000 one-ounce Pandas, which sold out within months. Soon after, these coins were trading on the secondary market at prices up to four times their original value. The popularity of the Gold Panda soared, leading the American Numismatic Association to honour the 1983 100 Yuan 1 oz coin as “Coin of the Year” in 1985.

An emblematic and unchanged obverse: The Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China

The Temple of Heaven, Tiantan, is situated in a large park (273 hectares) in Beijing. The most important building (illustrated on the obverse) is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Its origins date back to 1420 during the period of the Ming dynasty. Chinese Emperors came to Tiantan each year in January (early Spring) to pray for abundant harvests and national prosperity.

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Lot 215 – Chinese Gold Panda 1 Oz 1982 – 13’532 pieces minted

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Lot 284 – Chinese Gold Panda 100 Yuan 1996 – 22’009 pieces minted

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Lot 329 – Chinese Gold Panda 500 Yuan 2005 – 55’000 pieces minted

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The Lugdunum Auction 25 / Lot 215 – 343

For more information about the Chinese Gold Panda coins, please follow
More Chinese Gold Pandas at auction

The post Chinese Gold Panda coins first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

We recently acquired a previously unpublished work by the renowned Swiss medallist Antoine Bovy (1795-1877), creator of the famous seated Helvetia motif featured on the first silver coins of the Swiss Confederation.

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The unpublished drawing by Bovy presents his project for the minting of
the Confederation’s first gold coins in 1871.
Pencil drawing – original size 25 x 25 cm – framed

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Historical context

The first Swiss gold coins – 23 years after the founding of the Confederation

Since its foundation in 1848, the Helvetic Confederation had not minted any gold coins in its name, relying on the abundance of foreign gold coins in circulation on its territory following the establishment of the Latin Monetary Union. This monetary union, formed on 23 December 1865, allowed the currencies of France, Belgium and Italy to circulate freely in Switzerland as legal means of payment. Although this situation was initially beneficial, it soon proved to be dangerously inadequate. When, following the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war on 19 July 1870, gold coins were hoarded on a massive scale throughout the Union, there was a drastic shortage of them in the Confederation.

Faced with the cash crisis that was blocking the Swiss economy, the Federal Council was forced to resolve the situation, enacting a law to this effect on 22 December 1870, just a few days before Christmas. This date illustrated the urgency of the situation. Of this first attempt to mint Swiss gold coins in 1871, we have the patterns dated 1871 by Karl F. Voigt (HMZ 2-1225a) and Eduard Durussel (HMZ 2-1226a), as well as the obverse of the 1873 pattern created by Robert Dorer in 1871 (HMZ 2-1127a and 2-1128a). Antoine Bovy’s design is closest to the latter.

A rare Helvetia portrait depicted from the front

This 25 x 25 cm pencil drawing, with Bovy’s characteristic high artistic quality, features elements already present on his silver coins of the seated Helvetia type in circulation in the Swiss Confederation since 1850: the representation of Mont Blanc in the background, the antique toga, and the ploughshare and ears of grain on the right.

The major innovation of this project, however, lies in the frontal representation of Helvetia. This is an iconographic technique dear to Antoine Bovy, who experimented with it on many of his medals. Finally, one iconographic element also brings this project closer to the work of Robert Dorer: the presence of a large sword in Helvetia’s right hand, symbolising a Switzerland ready to defend itself in the context of war in Europe.

A project exhibited at the 1896 Swiss National Exhibition in Geneva

Although Bovy’s design was not selected by the Federal Council for the 20-franc gold coin, the importance of this hitherto unpublished drawing, over and above its great artistic value, is illustrated by a handwritten note on its back: “exhibited under No. 1216, in Geneva (1896) at the Swiss National Exhibition”. According to our research, a retrospective exhibition devoted to the works of Antoine Bovy, this great Genevan artist, was held during the major event that was the Swiss National Exhibition of 1896, and received a very positive response from a large number of national and international visitors.

Viewing

Antoine Bovy’s work can be viewed by appointment at the Lugdunum auction house in Solothurn. Please contact us.
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Antoine Bovy

Antoine Bovy was born on 14 December 1795 in Geneva, Switzerland, the son of a jeweller. Initially working as an engraver in his father’s company, Bovy spent time in the studio of Parisian sculptor James Pradier around 1824. In 1830, he settled in Paris and became a French citizen. He produced numerous medals commemorating French and Swiss personalities as well as military and technical achievements. He produced dies for the French mint, the Republic of Geneva and the Swiss Confederation. Bovy returned to Geneva in 1873 and died there on 18 September 1877.

Still in circulation

Bovy also created the depiction of the standing Helvetia which can be found on the ½, 1 and 2 franc coins that are still in circulation today.

Seated Helvetia

The motif of the seated Helvetia motif appeared on the first silver coins of the Helvetic Confederation between 1850 and 1874.

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The post Numismatic discovery of 1871 first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

The 100 francs Vreneli, which was minted in 1925 in a limited edition of just 5’000 pieces, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Renowned artist, sculptor and coin designer, Chiara Principe, was commissioned by Swissmint to design an anniversary edition of the 100 francs Vreneli.

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Wanted to buy: 100 FR Vreneli 2025

On 1st July 2025, the anniversary issue has been released in a limited edition of 2’500 copies in PP quality. Demand was great and we are looking for more copies of the anniversary issue for our dear customers. Please contact us if you have a copy for sale. We look forward to receiving your offer.

In contrast to the historical Vreneli, the portrait of Helvetia is not presented in profile but frontally. Her pride in a past rich in tradition – underlined by the raised elements – and her determined view of the future – represented by the open areas – combine to create a design that harmoniously unites history and vision. The coin reinterprets the design elements of the historic Vreneli with visible respect for tradition.
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Historical original – 100 francs Vreneli 1925

The 100 francs Vreneli from 1925 is an exceptional gold coin that holds a unique place in Swiss coinage history thanks to its ornate design and symbolic status. The 100 francs Vreneli is one of the rarest issues in the Vreneli-series and is highly demanded and popular worldwide.

The 100 francs Vreneli was not intended to serve as a means of payment at the time. Rather, the Federal Council saw this gold coin as a kind of special coin presented by the Swiss Confederation as an honour and diplomatic gift. The 100 francs Goldvreneli is an upsized version of the 10 francs Goldvreneli and can currently realise between 10’000 and 20’000 Swiss francs on the market.
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You can learn more about the exciting history of the Swiss Goldvreneli and the value of the different vintages when visiting our Goldvreneli guide.

The post 100 francs Vreneli 2025 first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

Our coming auction will take place on Thursday, 12 December 2024 in Solothurn.
Location: Hotel H4**** Solothurn – Schänzlistrasse 5
The Auctions will start at 15:00 pm (local Swiss time).

The heart of the sale will be an important collection of medals. «The Wisdom Collection» is the name we have chosen for this beautiful collection of Italian, French and German Renaissance medals of a Gentleman & Art Connoisseur. Not less than 15 years have passed since such an important collection of Renaissance medals appeared on the market. This auction can therefore be considered as a very rare opportunity.

As you must know, medals are an invention of the Renaissance, the brilliant flash of inspiration of the Italian painter Pisanello. Indissociable from the European Renaissance elite’s culture, they were cherished and admired in the same way as portrait paintings and no humanist prince would be considered complete, without a dedicated portrait medal. As such, Renaissance medals bring to our modern eyes, as an intemporal echo from the past, cast in metal, the values humanism stand for: wisdom and beauty.

Discover some highlights of the auction in our viewing-videos on YouTube.

For more information or viewing in our premises please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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We thank you very much for your interest and look forward to welcoming you on 12th December!

The post The Lugdunum Auction 24 first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

Enjoy the medals of our upcoming Auction and visit our viewing-videos on YouTube
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Lot 001 – John VIII Palaeologus in your hands

Lot 002 – Leonello d’Este in your hands

Lot 003 – Borso d’Este in your hands

Lot 004 – Sigismondo Malatesta in your hands

Lot 006 – Mehmed II in your hands

Lot 007 – Lodovico Carbone of Ferrara in your hands

Lot 009 – Altobello Averoldo of Brescia in your hands

Lot 015 – Giovanni Alvise Toscani in your hands

Lot 017 – Giovanni Pico della Mirandola in your hands

Lot 018 – Alamanno Rinucci in your hands

Lot 035 – Louis XII in your hands

Lot 036 – Philibert II Le Beau in your hands

Lot 039 – Henri IV in your hands

Lot 042 – Francesco IV de Gonzague in your hands

Lot 054 – Charles Duret de Chevry in your hands

Lot 088 – The Trinity in your hands

Lot 089 – Vanitas in your hands

The post The Wisdom Collection video-viewing first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.

Our auction 24 is already online.
This link will take you directly to AUEX, where you can register at any time.

The auction will be held on Thursday, 12 December 2024, starting at 15:00 pm (local Swiss time).
For more information about the auction and the location please click here
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AUEX.de is an auction livebidding platform that allows collectors and numismatic dealers to participate live at an auction from the comfort of their home or office. We are very pleased that with AUEX.de we can offer our customers the opportunity to place bids via the internet as if they were there on the spot personally.

We appreciate your interest and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Dr. Jonas Emmanuel Flueck

The post The Lugdunum Auction 24 live on AUEX first appeared on Lugdunum Numismatik.