Switzerland 1892-B 20 francs
This specimen was lot 74731 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $384. The catalog description[1] noted, "SWITZERLAND. 20 Francs, 1892-B. Bern Mint. NGC AU-58. On the cusp of Mint State status, this charming specimen retains great brilliance emanating from the protected areas." 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.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.1867 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-495; KM-31.3.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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