Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1311. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SWITZERLAND, St. Gallen (Stadt). AR Halbtaler Klippe (14.36 g, 12h). Dated 1620. _ MO NO CIVIT SANGALLENSIS 1620 (single and double quadrate stops), bear, wearing jeweled collar, rampant left; all within double linear and pearl border / SOLI DEO OPT MAX LAVS ET GLORIA (single and double quadrate stops), crowned nimbate double-headed eagle facing with wings displayed. Cf. Corragioni pl. XXX, 15; Divo-Tobler 1401b; HMZ 730. VF, toned.

The origin of the bear as a symbol of St. Gallen comes from legend. According to folklore, when the Irish missionary Gallus decided to build a monastery near the river Steinach around AD 600, he encountered a hungry bear. Gallus fed the bear some bread, and, in return, the bear helped him gather wood for the building. In recognition of its importance in the founding of St. Gallen, the bear became a symbol of the town.