Switzerland 1912-B 5 francs
This specimen was lot 2919 in Sincona sale 13 (Zürich, October 2013), where it sold for 4,750 CHF (about US$6,144 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ, Eidgenossenschaft, 5 Franken 1912. Bern Vorzüglich. (confederation of Switzerland, five france of 1912, extremely fine)."
It is a scarce date of its type (struck 1888-1916, nearly the same span as the Barber half dollar, which it strongly resembles) yet is still expensive in nice condition. It was superseded in 1922 by a five francs bearing a portrait of hero William Tell. Confederation coinage commenced in 1850; prior to that, each canton struck its own coinage. In 1931, the five francs was reduced to 15 grams, 0.835 fine, and struck in that form until 1969.
Recorded mintage: 11,000.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, this specimen 24.99 g.
Catalog reference: Divo 282, HMZ 2-1198n. KM 34, Dav-392.
- 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]Auktion 13: Münzen und Medaillen, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2013.
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