Switzerland 1951-B 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 3058 in Steve Album Auction 55 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2026), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "SWITZERLAND: Confederation, AR 1/2 franc, 1951-B, a splendid lustrous example! PCGS graded MS67." 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 half franc of 1866-1920. Many of the dates from the twentieth century are very common and this one is no exception. Prior to confederation in 1850, each Swiss canton issued its own coins.
Recorded mintage: 8,530,000 plus specimens; a common date.
Specification: 2.5 g, 0.835 fine silver, .067 troy oz ASW, 18.1 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 23.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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