Vaud Gulden

The Vaud Gulden was often struck using silver recycled from foreign coins, like those pesky Spanish reales that flooded Europe. This practical approach meant every piece carried a bit of international baggage, reflecting the era's tangled trade routes.

Design-wise, it typically featured the Bernese bear on one side, a blunt reminder of who really held the purse strings in Vaud. Weights varied slightly, as minting techniques weren't always precise, especially during conflicts.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that period are spotty at best. What survives shows these coins circulated widely until Napoleon's meddling in the late 1790s.

As for variations, some years saw crude edges, likely from rushed production—wartime economies have a way of cutting corners.

Oh, and if you think Swiss coins are boring, remember: even neutrality has its sharp edges.