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Need Help With a Swiss Taler, Please
cornbread
Posts: 62 ✭
Can a taler collector please help me out regarding the value of a taler I just bought? I apologize for not having a photo of it, but I don't have a camera that is up to the job. 
The image below was taken from the book Musée neuchâtelois, v. 29, Société d'histoire du canton de Neuchâtel.
It was the official medal for the shooting contest held in August 1892 in the small town of Le Locle, Switzerland. A total of 1357 medals were issued -- 9 gold, 705 silver, and 643 bronze, all (I believe) are 45mm. Mine is bronze.
The obverse features a gunman standing, wearing a shirt belted at the waist. He is raising his hat with his right hand; his left hand is holding his rifle by its strap. Behind him are two flags inclined to right, above the cantonal shield raised to the ground behind the feet of the shooter, two palms. In the background are the school clock with the statue of Daniel Jean-Richard, the College of Le Locle, a group of trees, and some houses. "NOS JEUX GUERRIERS A LA PATRIE" is the legend at the top. At bottom is the name "Huegenin Brothers".
On the reverse are the words "TIR CANTONAL NEUCHATELOIS" * Le Locle. SWITZERLAND. 1892* In a cartouche of the city arms of Locle surmounted by a mural crown with four towers and battlements, are an oak branch on the left, and a branch of laurel on the right.
The description is taken largely from the above-referenced book, which goes on to say regarding the festival's other medals: "The other medals for sale in Le Locle do absolutely nothing striking. They move in the circle of ordinary banalities."
This is the first shooting taler I have ever owned. There are a lot of good looking ones out there, but this one caught my eye. I don't know the grading terminology, but if this were a commemorative, I'd call it AU. I'm probably going to get the Richter set, because I must have more of these talers.
Until then, can someone give me a book valuation of this medal in different grades? I appreciate any help at all you can give. Thank you!
Edited for grammar.
The image below was taken from the book Musée neuchâtelois, v. 29, Société d'histoire du canton de Neuchâtel.It was the official medal for the shooting contest held in August 1892 in the small town of Le Locle, Switzerland. A total of 1357 medals were issued -- 9 gold, 705 silver, and 643 bronze, all (I believe) are 45mm. Mine is bronze.
The obverse features a gunman standing, wearing a shirt belted at the waist. He is raising his hat with his right hand; his left hand is holding his rifle by its strap. Behind him are two flags inclined to right, above the cantonal shield raised to the ground behind the feet of the shooter, two palms. In the background are the school clock with the statue of Daniel Jean-Richard, the College of Le Locle, a group of trees, and some houses. "NOS JEUX GUERRIERS A LA PATRIE" is the legend at the top. At bottom is the name "Huegenin Brothers".
On the reverse are the words "TIR CANTONAL NEUCHATELOIS" * Le Locle. SWITZERLAND. 1892* In a cartouche of the city arms of Locle surmounted by a mural crown with four towers and battlements, are an oak branch on the left, and a branch of laurel on the right.
The description is taken largely from the above-referenced book, which goes on to say regarding the festival's other medals: "The other medals for sale in Le Locle do absolutely nothing striking. They move in the circle of ordinary banalities."
This is the first shooting taler I have ever owned. There are a lot of good looking ones out there, but this one caught my eye. I don't know the grading terminology, but if this were a commemorative, I'd call it AU. I'm probably going to get the Richter set, because I must have more of these talers.
Until then, can someone give me a book valuation of this medal in different grades? I appreciate any help at all you can give. Thank you! Edited for grammar.
Lovely dimes, the liveliest coin, the one that really jingles. --Truman Capote
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I paid $100 for it.
I paid more, but not crazy more, so I feel okay. I don't usually buy pieces without doing some research, but this was different. It's toned, has an incredible amount of detail, not a rub on it. Plus I am partial to copper/bronze.
I searched this forum earlier for posts on talers and noticed that you have collected these for some time. Do you specialize in any particular ones?
Dang, now I have to go research the difference between medals and talers.
ETA: Wow, I just looked at the rest of your collection . . . gorgeous!
“Die Schützentaler und Schützenmedaillen der Schweiz“ and “Die Schützenjetons der Schweiz“ (2005). This fabulous two-volume set is the long-promised replacement for the Martin Katalog of Swiss shooting medals, and includes the jetons. Many more entries, covers issues to 1960, and has about 2000 color images, 525 pages. Values given for “VF-XF” and “Choice UNC”. THIS is the new “bible” for shooting medals!
Richter
I would purchase the Krause reference book as a base guide to Swiss Shooting Medals and Talers -
Krause
The Richter book, which I have, is the best in the market, yet more expensive:
Richter
<< <i>Here's a source for the Richter text.
“Die Schützentaler und Schützenmedaillen der Schweiz“ and “Die Schützenjetons der Schweiz“ (2005). >>
Note to myself: Also look up the meaning of "jeton".
Now THAT's what AHM talkin' about!!
Beautiful piece Zohar...
It's just that I got my PCGS grades.