Switzerland 1966-B 5 francs
This specimen was lot 1784 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 50 CHF (about US$76 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ Eidgenossenschaft, Fehlprägungen, 5 Franken 1966, Bern B. 15.01 g. Beginnender Stempelbruch auf der Vorderseite bei ...VETIC... von HELVETICA. HMZ 2-1200p. Selten. Vorzüglich. Offenbar war in diesem Fall der Stempelbruch frisch, da alle Prägemerkmale, wie Buchstaben und die feinen Perlen noch in Situ zu sehen sind. Wie viele Schläge dieser Stempel ausgehalten hat, bis er endgültig auseinanderbrach, ist nicht bekannt. (Switzerland, error coinage, five francs of 1966, Bern mint, obverse die break thru "VETIC" of "HELVETICA". Rare, Extremely Fine. In this instance, the die break was evidently fresh, as all striking details—such as the letters and fine beads—remain clearly visible in situ. It is not known how many strikes this die withstood before finally fracturing completely.)"
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 common, including this one. Prior to confederation in 1850, each Swiss canton issued its own coins. Altho the figure on the obverse is traditionally identified as William Tell, Numista states that this is not the case; the figure is merely a typical Swiss herdsman.
Recorded mintage: 9,016,000 plus specimens; a common date.
Specification: 15 g, 0.835 fine silver, .402 troy oz ASW, 31.45 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: KM 40, Divo 442, HMZ 2-1200e.
- 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, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 103: World and Swiss coins and medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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