1/2 FRANC 1990 B Helvetia Standing ½ Franc (Switzerland Coin)

Series: Helvetia standing series

Obverse
Full-length figure of Helvetia, standing, facing left, wearing toga, holding a spear in right hand, and supporting shield with coat of arms of Switzerland with left hand. 22 stars around, representing the 22 cantons of the Swiss confederation. In 1983, a 23rd star was added for the Canton of Jura, which was founded in 1979.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
HELVETIA
A. BOVY INCᵀ.

Unabridged legend: Antoine Bovy incidit

Translation: Engraved by Antoine Bovy.

Engraver: Antoine Bovy

Designer: Albert Walch

Reverse
Wreath formed of oak and alpine rose branches tied with a ribbon below.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
½ Fr.
1990

Engraver: Antoine Bovy

Designer: Albert Walch

Edge
Reeded

½ Franc (Helvetia standing; copper-nickel) - obverse

Mints
Bern, Switzerland (1225-date)
Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)
B Bern, Switzerland (1225-date)
Comments
In 1967, the price of silver soared steeply, reaching 260 francs per kilogram in August and 350 francs per kilogram in March 1968. At this time, the melt value of the 1⁄2 franc pieces was circa 0.73 francs. Switzerland started to experience a severe shortage of cash, especially in the north, where people were exporting coins to Germany to be melted. In spite of strict measures against hoarding and illegal melting, it is estimated that around 100 tonnes of silver in 1⁄2, 1, and 2 franc coins were melted. The crisis alleviated in 1968, when coins started to be minted in a copper-nickel alloy at full capacity, around 1.5 million coins per day. The coins were released on 10 May 1968 and the old silver coins were withdrawn on 1 April 1971.

Nevertheless, the mint in Bern did not have enough capacity to timely substitute around half a billion silver coins in circulation with new copper-nickel pieces. Therefore, the Royal Mint in London was contracted to supplement production in 1968-1970. The production of the 1⁄2 franc coins began on 17 July 1968, after the 1 and 2 franc coins were minted. Around 500 000 early coins produced in London were rejected by the Swiss, who were dissatisfied with the dull grey color of the Birmingham planchets and the quality of the milled edge. Four Swiss experts were sent to London to ensure quality control.

Coins from 1968 and 1969 without mintmark were minted in London, and they can be easily distinguished by the coins minted in Bern, which bear the B mintmark. At the time, opportunistic collectors tried to sell the coins with no mintmark as rare mint errors, which was not the case, given that 75 412 000 half franc pieces have been minted in London. In order to address these deceiving practices, the mint in Bern dropped its mintmark in 1970. As a result, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the coins minted in Bern and those minted in London in 1970. 24 012 000 pieces dated 1970 were minted in London, and 28 605 000 in Bern. The coins minted in London have a grey appearance, while those from Bern are more reflective.

Source: Ruedi Kunzmann; 2002. "Die Silbermünzenkrise der Schweiz von 1968 und die Tätigkeit der Royal Mint, London". Schweizer Münzblätter, volume 50-52, page 68-72.

Three groups of this type exist:

Obverse
Die 1 - squat script of legends, tiny serifs to HELVETIA.
Die 2 - tall script of legends, large rectangular serifs to HELVETIA.

Reverse
Die A from model 1875 - acorns with grid, large wreath. In use from 1875 till 1967.
Die B - acorns without grid, smaller wreath.
Die C - reengraved, acorns small and with grid, leaves with deep midribs.

22 stars coin alignment (KM# 23a.1, Schön# 27a.1):
Obverse: 22 stars
Alignment: coin

Combinations
1+B: 1968-1979.
2+B: 1980-1981.

22 stars medal alignment (KM# 23a.2, Schön# 27a.2):
Obverse: 22 stars
Alignment: medal

Combinations
2+B: 1982.

23 stars medal alignment (KM# 23a.3, Schön# 57):
Obverse: 23 stars
Alignment: medal

Obverse
Die 1 from model of 1983 - small stars, squat script to A.BOVY, spear points between beads.
Die 2 - large stars, tall script to A.BOVY, spear points to bead.
Picture: © Images courtesy of Alexandr Prokofyev.

Combinations
1+C: 1983-2005.
2+C: 2006-2018.

DATE MINTAGE
1990 B 20 023 100