Switzerland 1878-B 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 1710 in Ponterio sale 173 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $705. The catalog description[1] noted, "SWITZERLAND. 1/2 Franc, 1878-B. NGC MS-63. Toned with lustrous blue peripheral highlights." This type was struck at the Bern mint starting in 1874 and the design is still in use today tho the coin is now nickel. This specimen is struck to the standard of the French fifty centimes of 1866-1920. Many of the dates from the twentieth century are very common but this one is expensive in nice condition. Prior to confederation in 1850, each Swiss canton issued its own coins.
Recorded mintage: 1,000,000.
Specification: 2.5 g, 0.835 fine silver, .067 troy oz ASW, 18.2 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM-23.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio Sale 173: The January NYINC 2013 Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
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- 1877 ½ franc
- 1878 2 francs
- 1881 ½ franc
- Coins and currency dated 1878
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