© Heritage Auctions
© Heritage Auctions
40 Batzens Counterstamped ND
| Silver (.917) | 30 g | 41 mm |
| Issuer | Canton of Bern |
|---|---|
| Period | Republic |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1816-1819 |
| Value | 40 Batzen |
| Currency | Frank (1798-1850) |
| Composition | Silver (.917) |
| Weight | 30 g |
| Diameter | 41 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled, Counterstamped |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-07 |
| Numista | N#24159 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Standing Genius writing the Constitution, denomination counterstamp
Script: Latin
Lettering:
REGNE DE LA LOI.
CONSTI
TUTION
1793.
40
BZ.
Edge
Reeded
Comment
Counterstamped between July 1816 - July 1819. Krause lists the Date as ND (1816).From July 1816 to July 1819, private individuals were able to check the weight of worn French ecus in the Bern Mint for a fee, and if they weighed at least 542 grains (28,788 grams). A total of 600,000 pieces were counter-stamped. However, since these pieces were very popular with the silver processing industry (especially among the watch case manufacturers in Geneva, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle), many of the counter-stamped pieces went into the melting pot and are therefore quite rare.
Examples of this type:
• Example counterstamp on French écu from 1793-A Pau (29.05g, Very Fine):
© Image courtesy of SINCONA AG
◦ Auctioned by SINCONA AG, Auction 30, 20 May 2016, Lot 3748. Sold for 1,800 CHF.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Standard circulation coin 40 Batzens (Counterstamped) ND (1816-1819) from Canton of Bern is that it was minted during a time of economic and political change in Switzerland. The coin was issued during the Helvetic Republic, a short-lived federal state that existed from 1798 to 1803, and was replaced by the Swiss Confederation. The counterstamp on the coin indicates that it was issued by the Canton of Bern, which was one of the three cantons that formed the Helvetic Republic. The use of silver in the coin's minting was also significant, as it reflected the value placed on this precious metal during that time period.
