Helvetian Republic 1799-B 10 batzen
This specimen was lot 36799 in Heritage sale 3038 (Dallas, January 2015), where it sold for $1,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "Helvetian Republic 10 Batzen 1799-B MS65 PCGS. Bern, (B), mint. The Helvetian Republic was a Napoleonic creation that lasted just a few years. This sterling example should attract spirited bidding." The Helvetian Republic was a puppet state set up by the French in 1798 on the remnants of the old Swiss Confederation. It collapsed in 1803 under religious and class conflict and Napoleon reorganized it as the Swiss confederation, restoring the liberties of the old cantons. Most of its issues are rare and expensive. Ten batzen equalled one franc, so this coin is probably billon.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM-A1.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Divo, Jean-Paul, and Edwin Tobler, Die Münzen der Schweiz, im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, Zürich: Bank Leu & Co AG, 1969.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage Signature Auction 3038, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
Link to: