Switzerland Coins From 1850 - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,216
CoinHunter53562 Pillar of the Community United States 2049 Posts	Posted 12/19/2008 4:08 pm Hi I have two Swiss coins from 1850. I have been able to determine their KM number and that they are made of billon. Beyond that, I have no idea what the silver content is. Can anyone help? Coin #1 1850BB Switzerland 5 Rappan KM#5 Coin #2 1850BB Switzerland 20 Rappan KM#7 Thanks! Report this Post to the Staff

Sap Moderator Australia 16830 Posts	Posted 12/19/2008 5:44 pm When the catalogues say "billon" it normally means that the fineness is both low (averaging below .500 fine) and variable. If the catalogue says "silver" without giving a fineness, then the average fineness is above .500 fine. In other words, as far as the cataloguers know, nobody knows the fineness of the silver in these coins, because the Swiss mint didn't really care how much silver went into the mix. It may even have varied from day to day. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
SeriousCERES Valued Member United States 365 Posts	Posted 12/20/2008 11:05 am On a similar topic: I know that the big Swiss 5 Franc crowns around 1850 were minted in Paris. But I don't know why. The rappen were being minted in Bern, right? Why did they 'outsource' their bigger coin to the French? Did it have anything to do with the new Confederation? Report this Post to the Staff
chrisild Pillar of the Community Germany 1238 Posts	Posted 12/20/2008 2:04 pm The mint in Bern was opened in 1855. Until then, the coins of the Swiss confederation were minted in Paris (A) and Strasbourg (BB). According to this article http://www.swissmint.ch/upload/_pdf...zstaette.pdf (in German) the Swiss were not exactly happy with the quality of the coins and dies that those mints made ... Christian Report this Post to the Staff
SeriousCERES Valued Member United States 365 Posts	Posted 12/20/2008 9:47 pm Ah ok, minted at "BB" and "A". Thanks for the information! I bet that Swiss mint doc is online somewhere in English and French too--gonna check. The government agencies always publish in several languages! Report this Post to the Staff
wd1040 Pillar of the Community United States 3098 Posts	Posted 12/20/2008 10:27 pm Quote: English and French too It's definitely in French. That's one of the 4 national languages! Report this Post to the Staff
CoinHunter53562 Pillar of the Community United States 2049 Posts	Posted 12/22/2008 8:56 pm Quote: When the catalogues say "billon" it normally means that the fineness is both low (averaging below .500 fine) and variable. If the catalogue says "silver" without giving a fineness, then the average fineness is above .500 fine. In other words, as far as the cataloguers know, nobody knows the fineness of the silver in these coins, because the Swiss mint didn't really care how much silver went into the mix. It may even have varied from day to day. Thanks for the info. This would explain why I am having so much trouble finding specific info! Report this Post to the Staff
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