Switzerland 1989 50 francs
This specimen was lot 4917 in Goldberg sale 65 (Los Angeles, September 2011), where it sold for $92. The catalog description[1] noted, "Switzerland. 50 Francs, 1989. For the Zug Festival in Menzingen. Mintage 2,200. Choice Brilliant Proof." Shooting festival medals/coins are a Swiss tradition going back before confederation in 1848. The early ones (before World War One) were struck to the standard of a silver five francs and circulated as such even tho they bore no denomination. Later ones are strictly collector items with no face value and should be classed as medals, not coins. They are not listed in the regular SCWC. This one was accompanied by a gold thousand francs (Fr-512).
Recorded mintage: 2,200, all proofs.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .723 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-X#S32.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Unusual World Coins, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- 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]Goldberg, Ira, and Larry Goldberg, Goldberg sale 65: The Pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient and World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2011.
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