Switzerland 1948-B 5 francs
The first specimen was lot 35141 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $1,020. The catalog description[1] noted, "Switzerland: Confederation Specimen 5 Francs 1948-B SP67 PCGS, Bern mint. Scarcely encountered in specimen strike, this handsome offering dazzles the eye with a profound reflectivity in the fields and presents an additional allure of charm with subtle tonal hues along the peripheries. Furthermore a piece that deserves attention as currently the apex of the type with none finer listed by PCGS. From the Feeling Good Collection." This type was struck at the Bern mint 1931-69. The design is still in use today tho the coin is now copper-nickel. Many of the dates from the twentieth century are very common but this one is slightly scarce. Prior to confederation in 1850, each Swiss canton issued its own coins.
Recorded mintage: 419,000 plus specimens.
Specification: 15 g, 0.835 fine silver, .402 troy oz ASW, 31.45 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: KM 40.
- 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, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2018 September 6-11 Long Beach Expo World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3067, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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