Switzerland 1901-B 1/2 franc

Heritage sale 3038, lot 36809

This specimen was lot 36809 in Heritage sale 3038 (Dallas, January 2015), where it sold for $3,995. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Confederation Specimen 1/2 Franc 1901-B SP65 PCGS, Bern mint. A spectacular jewel, sheathed in a fantastic mixture of opalescent tone and with deeply-mirrored fields that present a light cameo contrast, highly appealing in this deluxe quality." 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 scarce to rare. Prior to confederation in 1850, each Swiss canton issued its own coins.

Recorded mintage: 200,000.

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

Catalog reference: KM 23.

Source:

• 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage Signature Auction 3037, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.

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