Switzerland 1826 Bern 5 Batzen
In the early 1800s, the people of Switzerland used a sprawling patchwork of currency that included thousands of distinct coins. In an effort to simplify matters, Bern joined with several other cantons to issue standardized coins in 1826. These pieces were meant to be interchangeable, but they still carried the coat of arms of each individual canton, which for Bern features a bear.
Simplifying the currency wasn’t as easy as it might sound. Even an issue like Bern’s 1826 5 batzen comes in several varieties, including “Batz” and “Baz” (so-called for how the denomination is rendered on the obverse) as well as “Denomination in Exergue,” named after the line separating the denomination from the rest of the design above it. Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) recently received a purported example of the “Batz” variety. Genuine examples in Mint State generally have a numismatic premium of about $100 to $200.
Even for an issue with a reputation for diversity in design, the above coin submitted to NGC differs substantially from genuine examples and is easily dismissed as a fake. For example, on the reverse, the symbols resembling three-leaf clovers within the cross are unexpectedly rendered as a trio of dots on the counterfeit. The font on the fake’s reverse also varies significantly from the genuine version; look at the tooth-like style on the letter “E,” with the upper and lower lines ending in serifs that point directly at each other.
Unexpected design variations are also present on the obverse, including in the crown, bear, and ornamentation along the edge. Clearly, the counterfeiter struck this coin using dies that were outright fakes (instead of using a genuine coin to transfer the design to counterfeit dies). Another clue to the origin of this coin is its use of a fresh planchet; genuine examples of this issue were often struck over earlier types.
Whether the numismatic premium is modest or substantial, many collectors rest easier knowing their coins are certified. Remember that NGC backs its determinations of authenticity and grade with the NGC Guarantee.
A version of this article appears in the January 2025 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).