Basel 2 Batzen

The Basel 2 Batzen coins were typically struck with the city's coat of arms, including a bishop's crozier and key, a design that quietly outlasted the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War.

These copper issues came from Basel's cantonal mint, circulating as everyday currency from 1600 to 1798. They varied in quality, depending on the available copper supplies and the skill of the die cutters. Some years saw planchets that were unevenly shaped, a reminder of the era's makeshift metallurgy.

Exact mintage numbers remain uncertain; many records were likely destroyed in local fires or simply never compiled. I've handled dozens over the years, and let me tell you, spotting a well-preserved one is like finding a straight edge on a medieval flan—rarer than you'd think.