Switzerland 1889-B 20 francs
This specimen was lot 30674 in Heritage sale 3040 (Chicago, April 2015), where it sold for $2,585. The catalog description[1] noted, "Confederation gold 20 Francs 1889-B MS65 Prooflike NGC. With virtually pristine fields displaying exceptional reflectivity and devices that are frosty in nature, it naturally follows that this selection is of first-strike or Specimen quality. A conditionally rare gem, featuring vibrant, golden-honey tone and surfaces sheathed in glossy luster. Scarcely encountered in this deluxe classification and currently the finest-known certified example of this date, with none graded finer." This Swiss twenty francs conforms to the standard of the Latin Monetary Union, where twenty francs = 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold. Switzerland continued to use this standard even after France, its originator, abandoned it after World War One. This type was struck 1886-96; an earlier issue (KM 31.1) of 1883 had a reeded edge.
Recorded mintage: 100,000 (a common date).
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, .186 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 31.3, Fr-495.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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 3040, featuring the Santa Maria, the Alan Dean and the Valley View Life Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
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