Switzerland 1898-B 1/2 franc

Sincona sale 35, lot 5616

This specimen was lot 5616 in Sincona sale 35 (Zurich, October 2016), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Confederation, 1/2 Franken 1898. Fast FDC. (Swiss confederation, half franc of 1898. About uncirculated.)"

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. This date is common. Prior to confederation in 1850, each Swiss canton issued its own coins.

Recorded mintage: 1,600,000.

Specification: 2.5 g, 0.835 fine silver, .067 troy oz ASW, 18.1 mm diameter, reeded edge, this specimen 2.48 g.

Catalog reference: Divo 166, HMZ 2-1206i, KM 23.

Source:

• Divo, Jean-Paul, and Edwin Tobler, Die Münzen der Schweiz, im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, Zurich: Bank Leu & Co AG, 1969.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th 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]Jürg Richter, Schweizer Münzen und Medaillen vom Mittelalter bis in die Neuzeit, Auktion 35, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2016.

Link to:

• 1878 ½ franc
• 1898 franc
• 1898 20 francs
• 1900 5 francs
• 1899 ½ franc
• Coins and currency dated 1898
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