Swiss 1896 Commemorative 5 Francs

The 1896 Swiss commemorative coin was struck to mark the 600th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, a rare instance where a nation celebrated its own fractious birth with such precision.

That event prompted designs featuring Helvetia on the obverse, her figure poised as if overseeing the Alps, and the federal coat of arms on the reverse, encircled by cantonal shields. It came in silver for the 5-franc piece and gold for the 20-franc, both using alloys typical of the era's Swiss mints. Mintage figures? Lost to time, like so many records from that period.

I've turned a few of these over in my hands—solid pieces, no nonsense. The edges bear the standard reeding, a nod to anti-counterfeiting measures that were ahead of their time. If you squint, the design almost looks modern, which might explain why it's still sought after, myths aside.