Switzerland 1895-B 20 francs
This specimen was lot 2090 in Sincona sale 25 (Zürich, October 2015), where it sold for 80,000 CHF (about US$98,818 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"20 Francs 1895. Struck in Gondo-gold. Helvetia head with diadem and alpine rose to l. Rev. Swiss shield of arms between the divided value, date below. The whole in an oak- and laurel wreath. Of great rarity. Only 19 specimens minted. Extremely fine-uncirculated. Lightly cleaned. A small cross is punched into the Swiss cross on the reverse. This as a sign that the coin is made from Gondo gold. With authenticity expertise from the Swissmint."
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: 200,000 plus 19 from "Gondo gold".
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, .186 troy oz AGW, lettered edge; this specimen 6.45 g.
Catalog reference: Divo 34, HMZ 2-1194m. Fr-498, 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Rarities, Auction 25, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
- 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.
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