1931-1969 5 Silver Swiss Franc Coin I From Switzerland A World Famous Banking Shelter - Herdsman National Motif I Monetized By The Government Of Switzerland

Helvetia, the female personification of Switzerland, wearing a toga, is holding a spear and is leaning on a Swiss shield. She is encircled by the 22 stars representing the 22 cantons in which the Confederation then consisted. The current Swiss Confederation was established in 1848, following the conclusion of the Sonderbund War (1847) and the ratification of the first Swiss Federal Constitution. Prior to 1848, most of the Swiss cantons produced their own coinage, but with the introduction of the new constitution, the prerogative to issue currency was transferred exclusively to the federal government. In 1850, because Switzerland had not yet established a national mint, the government commissioned the Monnaie de Paris in France to produce the first series of Swiss circulation coins, which consisted of denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 rappen, and ½, 1, 2, and 5 francs. The four higher-valued coins were all made with the same design.

• Issued And Monetized By The Government Of Switzerland.
• In 1967, the price of silver soared steeply, reaching 260 francs per kilogram in August and 350 francs per kilogram in March 1968. At this time, the melt value of the 1/2 franc pieces was circa 0.73 francs. Switzerland started to experience a severe shortage of cash, especially in the north, where people were illegally exporting coins to Germany to be melted. In spite of strict measures against hoarding and melting coins, it is estimated that around 100 tonnes of silver in Swiss francs melted
• Features a bust of a curly-haired herdsman facing right, wearing a hooded shirt, often mistakenly identified as William Tell; inscribed with "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" (Swiss Confederation) and "P. BVRKHARD. INCᵀ," (Engraved by Paul Burkhard) in Latin script. Engraver: Paul Burkhard.
• Features a bust of a curly-haired herdsman facing right, wearing a hooded shirt, often mistakenly identified as William Tell, with the inscription "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" (Swiss Confederation) and "P. BVRKHARD. INCᵀ," (Engraved by Paul Burkhard) in Latin script. The reverse displays the coat of arms of Switzerland on a square shield, an edelweiss branch with four flowers on the left, and a rusty-leaved alpenrose branch with flowers on the right, with the inscription "5 FR.",
• You are most likely to receive a circulated coin from 40's, 50's or 60's