2022-05-02 Mon

A modern Swiss rarity, the 1928 silver 5 franc coin is a testimony of Switzerland’s transition to a lighter silver 5-franc coin in 1928 and the dissolution of the Latin Monetary Union.

Switzerland was a founding member of the Latin Monetary Union in 1865. The 5-franc coins then in use since 1850 contained 0.7234-ounces actual silver weight. However, Switzerland left the union in 1928 which called for new coinage. The new 5 Swiss franc coins were not adopted until Sept 1931.

This transition made the previously minted coins null and void. They became a rarity as most of them were melted to make the new coins. The coin has been presented in Rapp’s May 6 auction with the estimate of 16,000 to 22,000 Swiss francs (USD 16,891 to USD 23,225).

The obverse of the coin depicts a bust of a curly-haired herdsman, facing right, wearing a hooded shirt, often mistakenly identified as William Tell. The reverse features the Coat of arms of Switzerland on a square shield along with two edelweiss springs with flowers to the left and right.

Image Courtesy: coinworld.com