Switzerland 1875-B 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 25898 in Heritage sale 3026 (Long Beach, October 2013), where it sold for $4,993.75. The catalog description[1] noted, "Confederation Half Franc 1875-B, first year of issue of the type, from the Bern Mint, SP67 PCGS, glittering mirrored surfaces, perfect strike, and fabulous silvery blue and gold iridescence, truly a joy to look at and among the finest known examples of this, the first appearance of the type featuring Standing Helvetia." This type was struck at the Bern mint starting in 1874 and the design is still in use today tho the coin is now nickel. This specimen is struck to the standard of the French fifty centimes of 1866-1920. Many of the dates from the twentieth century are very common but this one is expensive in nice condition. Prior to confederation in 1850, each Swiss canton issued its own coins.
Recorded mintage: 1,000,000.
Specification: 2.5 g, 0.835 fine silver, .067 troy oz ASW, 18.2 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM-23.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3026, World & Ancient Coins, featuring the RLM Collection, Part Two, the Nogales Collection and the Goetz Medals Die Archive, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
- Divo, Jean-Paul, and Edwin Tobler, Die Münzen der Schweiz, im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, Zurich: Bank Leu & Co AG, 1969.
- 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.
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