Swiss 1850 10 Centimes Pattern
Switzerland
1850
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Specifications
| Country | Switzerland |
| Years Minted | 1850 |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features a Swiss cross in the center with inscriptions including 'CONFŒDERATIO HELVETICA'.
Reverse
Depicts the denomination '10 CENTIMES' along with the year '1850'.
History & Notable Facts
This 1850 10 Centimes pattern was the first trial strike for Switzerland's new decimal system, using billon alloy to test the feasibility of a standardized 10 Centimes piece.
That billon came from melted-down older coins, a practical move to recycle metal amid the 1850 monetary reforms. The design featured a simple federal shield on the obverse, reflecting the young Swiss Confederation's push for unity after years of cantonal chaos. Struck in Bern, these patterns never entered circulation, serving only as prototypes.
We don't know the exact number produced; records from that era are spotty. As for the engraver, it's likely someone from the mint staff, but names are lost to time.
Patterns like this one remind me why I stick to facts: they're the real treasures, not the tales.
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