Switzerland 1893-B 20 francs

From CoinVarieties
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Sincona sale 39, lot 4853

This specimen was lot 4853 in Sincona sale 39 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 70,000 CHF (about US$83,951 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"SWITZERLAND | Confederation, 20 Franken 1893 B. Bern Geprägt aus Gondogold. Kopf der Helvetia mit Diadem und Alpenrosenzweig nach links. Rv. Schweizer Wappenschild zwischen der geteilten Wertangabe. Darunter die Jahreszahl. Das Ganze in einem Lorbeer- und Eichenkranz. Von grösster Seltenheit. Nur 25 Exemplare geprägt. Fast FDC. Erstabschlag. (confederation of Switzerland, twenty francs of 1893, Bern mint, struck from Gondo gold. Obverse: head of Helvetia with diadem of alpine roses to left; reverse: Swiss arms, date below. Of the highest rarity. Only 25 pieces struck. About uncirculated. Prooflike.)"

The regular date is common but the "Gondo gold" variety shown here is very rare. It is distinguished by the tiny cross punched into the reverse.

Recorded mintage: 100,000 plus 25 struck from "Gondo gold".

Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold; this specimen is 6.45 g.

Catalog reference: Richter (Proben) 2-91. Divo 28, HMZ 2-1194j. Fr-498, KM 31.3.

Source:

  • 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]Jürg Richter, Auction 39, World coins and medals, coins and medals from Switzerland, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.

Link to:

Retrieved from "https://coinvarieties.com/index.php?title=Switzerland_1893-B_20_francs&oldid=600114"