Neuchatel Taler

The Neuchatel Taler often bore the portrait of Prussian kings, even though it was minted in a Swiss canton under their distant rule.

This reflected Neuchatel's awkward status as a principality caught between Swiss independence and Prussian influence, starting from 1707. The coins were struck in silver, typically weighing around 29 grams, and featured varying designs that mirrored political shifts. For instance, early talers from the mid-17th century showed the arms of the House of Orléans, while later ones under Frederick the Great included his bust and Latin inscriptions.

Details like exact mintage figures are murky; records from that era burned in various fires, including one in 1838. What survives are the coins themselves, often with edge lettering to deter clipping.

Some specimens were restruck on planchets from older foreign coins, a practical reuse in times of scarce metal.

Prussian eagles on a Swiss coin: it's like borrowing your neighbor's coat and claiming it's yours.