Neuchatel 181(3) 5 francs
This specimen was lot 3398 in Sincona Auction 105 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 10,000 CHF (about US$15,240 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Neuenburg/Neuchâtel, Unter französischem Regime, Alexandre Berthier, Prince de Neuchâtel, 1806-1814. 5 Francs 181 (1813), Paris. Probe mit Fehlprägung. Portrait des Fürsten nach rechts. Umschrift mit PRINCE. Rv. Wertangabe in einem Lorbeerkranz, darüber Fürstenkrone. Unten im Abschnitt die unvollständige Jahreszahl 181 . Signatur von Stempelschneider Jean-Pierre Droz. Die fünfteilige Randschrift stark zur Wertseite hin verschoben. Von grosser Seltenheit. Fast FDC. Minimaler Randschlag. Es war Jean-Pierre Droz aus La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Kt. Neuenburg, welcher als Stempelschneider in Paris eine neue Technik der Randprägung, gleichzeitig zur Prägung von Vorder- und Rückseite, einführte. Dass dieser Vorgang einmal nicht ganz perfekt arbeitete, ist denkbar. (Switzerland, Neuchâtel under the French regime, prince Alexandre Berthier, 1806-14, five francs of 1813, Paris mint. Obverse: bust right; reverse: value in laurel wreath, princely crown above, partial date below. Of high rarity, About Mint State, Minimal edge bump. It was Jean-Pierre Droz from La Chaux-de-Fonds (Canton of Neuchâtel)—a die-cutter working in Paris—who introduced a new technique for edge lettering that allowed the edge to be struck simultaneously with the obverse and reverse sides. It is conceivable that this process did not always work perfectly.)"
This pattern was struck in various metals, of which the silver version shown here is the most valuable. Numista states copy dies were made in Brussels about 1850, and restrikes (counterfeits?) were made and sold until the 1890's. Wikipedia comments,
"Louis-Alexandre Berthier (20 November 1753 – 1 June 1815), Prince of Neuchâtel and Valangin, Prince of Wagram, was a French Marshal of the Empire who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was twice Minister of War of France and served as chief of staff to Napoleon Bonaparte.... When Napoleon deposed King Frederick William III of Prussia from the principality of Neuchâtel, Berthier was appointed its ruler. This lasted until 1814 and also brought him the title of sovereign prince in 1806."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, lettered edge, this specimen 25.02 g.
Catalog reference: KM Pn16, Richter (Proben) 1-633, Froidevaux V423, D.T. 252, HMZ 2-720c.
- Divo, Jean-Paul, and Edwin Tobler, Die Münzen der Schweiz, im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, Zürich: Bank Leu & Co AG, 1969.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunsmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 105: The Konrad Bürki Collection of Swiss Cantonal Coins - Part 5, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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