Geneva 1794-TB 1/2 decime
This specimen was lot 5140 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 12,000 CHF (about US$14,382 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SWITZERLAND | Geneva | Stadt und Kanton, Halber Décime (5 Centimes) 1794, Genf. Bienenstock mit zwei Bienen, darunter GENEVE und 1794. Rv. LES HEURES SONT DES TRESORS. Zifferblatt mit römischen Ziffern von I bis XII. In der Mitte CINQ CENTIMES - L'AN III DE LA LEGALITE. Darunter das Münzzeichen T.B2 für den Stempelschneider Théodore Bonneto. Auf der Vorderseite befinden sich 96 Randperlen. Glatter Rand. Äusserst selten. Vorzüglich. Feine Patina. (city and canton of Geneva, half decime of 1794, Geneva mint. Obverse: beehive with two bees, date below; reverse: value in center with Roman numerals I thru XII around in a clock pattern. There are 96 pearls on the rim of the obverse. Plain edge. Extremely rare, Extremely fine, Nicely toned.)"
This type was struck during a French-sponsored revolution which toppled the old oligarchy. When French armies later arrived with Napoleon, locals discovered that revolutionary armies are just as proficient at looting and pillaging as any other. The five centimes struck in France were made from copper, not silver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 3.05 g.
Catalog reference: Demole 607, D.T. 1031, HMZ 2-345a, KM 95.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Richter, Jürg, and Ruedi Kunzmann, Neuer HMZ-Katalog, Band 2: Die Münzen der Schweiz und Liechtensteins 15//16. Jahrhundert bis Gegenwart, Regenstauf, Germany: H. Gietl Verlag GmbH, 2006.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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