W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

350 The Coins of Europe
new and
;
the countermarked ttcus of Louis XVI. for some
of the cantons demonstrate the course taken to meet the
dilemma. These pieces, of which an enormous number were
at that time in the country, were found in many instances of
deficient weight, and the cantons stamped, to pass current
for 39 or 40 batzen, only such as were found to bear the
test of the scales. They have become very uncommon,
plentiful as they must have at the outset been.
There is
scarcely any European series more difficult to
procure on an extensive scale or with an aim at completeness
even within definite limits ;
and the catalogue of
rarities alone 1 would be a long one. One might take
Zurich separately, or any other leading centre of production,
and exhaust his patience and resources in gathering together
the numismatic treasures of the best period the middle of
the sixteenth century, where, from 1554 to 1561, the most
interesting thalers appeared. But even down to a later date
the large silver pieces, including those of Zurich and Basle,
with views of the cities, are well executed, and will bear
comparison with the contemporary work of other European
states ;
and the same may be said of the gold. It is in the
billon
money, which constitutes so heavy a percentage of the
whole, that the series fails.
Of the Counts of Greierz or Gruyere, to whom the right
of coinage was conceded by the Emperor Wenceslas II. in
1396, no numismatic evidences appear to be forthcoming
1
Compare Catalogues of Mints and Denominations, passim.