Switzerland 1860-B 2 francs
This specimen was lot 2089 in Künker sale 263 (Osnabrück, June 2015), where it sold for €700 (about US$905 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"EIDGENOSSENSCHAFT 2 Franken 1860, B, Bern. Prachtexemplar. Feine Patina, fast Stempelglanz. (confederation of Switzerland, two francs of 1860, Bern mint. Proof example, fine patina, choice uncirculated.)"
The seated Helvetia type was originally struck as a 0.900 fine coin in 1850 and 1857 (KM 10). The issues of 1860-63 are only 0.800 fine (shown here). In 1874, the standing Helvetia type (KM 21) was introduced and is still in production 140 years later (tho no longer silver).
Recorded mintage: 2,000,700.
Specification: 10 g, 0.800 fine silver, .257 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Divo 28, KM 10a.
- 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]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 263, The Friedrich Popken collection of gold and silver coinages | Coins and Medals from Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. the collection of Ernst Otto Horn, part III, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015.
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