Switzerland 1916-B franc
This specimen was lot 31734 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "Confederation Specimen Franc 1916-B SP66 PCGS, Bern mint. Immaculate quality for this elusive Specimen issue, showcasing bold reflectivity throughout the tone-free fields and raised design elements that sit in bold contrast due to the presence of crisp frost. Undoubtedly one the finest survivors of this date and presently the single-finest graded in either the PCGS or NGC population reports." This type was struck at the Bern mint 1874-1967. 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. Prior to confederation in 1850, each Swiss canton issued its own coins.
Recorded mintage: 1,000,000 plus specimens, a better date.
Specification: 5 g, 0.835 fine silver, 23.2 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 24, HMZ-21204y.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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