Switzerland 1905-B franc
This specimen was lot 5272 in Sincona sale 83 (Zürich, May 2023), where it sold for 1,800 CHF (about US$2,409 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "SWITZERLAND, 1 Franken 1905 B, Bern. Sehr selten in dieser Erhaltung. Very rare in this condition. NGC SP67. Prachtvoller Erstabschlag. Magnificent first strike. Das durch NGC höchstbewertete Exemplar. Finest certified by NGC." This type was struck 1878-1967 in this alloy at the Bern mint. The design is still in use today tho the coin is now copper-nickel. This specimen is struck to the standard of the French franc of 1866-1920. This is not a rare date but later dates from after World War Two are available for a few dollars in any grade.
Recorded mintage: 700,000 plus specimens, a slightly better date.
Specification: 5 g, 0.835 fine silver, 23.2 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 24, Divo 222, HMZ 2-1204o.
- Divo, Jean-Paul, and Edwin Tobler, Die Münzen der Schweiz, im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, Zürich: Bank Leu & Co AG, 1969.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
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