1872 5 Francs

The Eidgenössisches Schützenfest - the Swiss federal shooting festival - rotated between cantons in the 19th century and was one of the most important civic gatherings in the young Swiss Confederation. Each host canton commissioned a commemorative silver 5 Franc piece, struck to the same weight and fineness as the regular Swiss crown but with unique cantonal imagery. These "Schützentaler" are among the most artistically ambitious coins ever produced in Switzerland.

Zürich hosted the festival in 1872. The obverse, signed by the engraver F. Landry, depicts a crowned and draped Helvetia standing facing, raising a wreath of victory in her right hand and resting her left on an altar with a Swiss shield, the Lake of Zürich and Alps in the distance. The legend reads "FÜR FREIHEIT UND VATERLAND" - "For Freedom and Fatherland." The reverse shows the Swiss federal arms within an oak and laurel wreath, flanked by crossed rifles, with the legend "EIDGENÖSSISCHES SCHÜTZENFEST IN ZÜRICH 1872" and the denomination "5 Fr."

This example is graded PCGS MS-64 with the kind of vivid, full-spectrum rainbow toning that collectors of Swiss shooting thalers chase. HMZ 2-1343a; KM-XS12.