A Swiss NEWP

JCMhouston · February 18, 2015 11:00AM

I haven't added anything Swiss in quite a while, but picked this one up in a weekly auction. I do love the Bern Bear.

1798 Bern 1/2 Batzen, Billion, MS64. Bern was founded by Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, and the heraldic bear device has been used since at least the 1220's.

EVillageProwler · February 18, 2015 11:13AM

Very handsome coin. Congrats.

What's the size?

JCMhouston · February 18, 2015 12:35PM

23 mm.

lordmarcovan · February 19, 2015 2:22PM

Nice one. That's the first time I can recall seeing the Bern bear walking on a more or less level plane, instead of "uphill".

Edit- no, actually I think your obverse image is rotated a little bit. Note the outline of the shield. That cinquefoil ornament at the bottom of the legend (between "MONETA" and "BERNENSIS") should be at 6:00.