Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1312. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SWITZERLAND, St. Gallen (Stadt). BI Halbdicken (Dreibätzner) Klippe (3.78 g, 12h). Dated 1622. MO NO CIVI SANGALLENSIS (single and double quadrate stops), Bear, wearing collar, walking left on hind legs within pearl border; 1622 in exergue; quadrate stops flanking date / VNI _ SOLI _ DEO _ GLORIA, nimbate double-headed eagle facing with wings displayed; _ 3 _ below. Corragioni pl. XXXI, 5; Divo-Tobler 1405g; HMZ 732. VF, lightly chased.

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.