Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3051 8-9 January 2017
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Switzerland
Confederation gold Specimen "Stirnlocke-Vreneli" Pattern 20 Francs 1897-B SP66+ PCGS, Bern mint, KM-Pn39, Fr-500, HMZ-21195b, Divo Proben-35. By Fritz Landry. Obv. Draped bust of Helvetia left, with 'wispy' forelock (stirnlocke), wearing hair in braid and with garland of edelweiss over shoulders; Alps in the background. Rev. Swiss cross on shield; all over branches and between denomination. An ultimate rarity within the Swiss series, with an alarmingly low mintage of just 12 pieces, this wondrous pattern provides a glimpse into what may have been for the Helvetia series. The so-called 'stirnlocke,' the enchanting lock of hair blown gently by the mountain breeze across her forehead, was an element designed and engraved by Fritz Landry, but was ultimately deemed 'too frivolous' at the mint and was removed from the version utilized for the subsequent business strikes. Impeccable surfaces, with a charming and resounding brilliance, along with a radiant luster, captivating the attention of the viewer, combine to create a stupendous specimen worthy of the finest cabinets and collections in the world. A similar specimen, also graded SP66+ PCGS, realized a hammer of ChF 130,000 in Sincona 14 (17 October 2013), lot 3560, while a SP65 PCGS was sold more recently in our ANA Signature sale (11 August 2016), lot 32513, for $90,000. Ex. NGSA 6 (30 November 2010), lot 926 (where it realized a hammer of ChF 130,000).
From the Bern Collection
Estimate: 100000-150000 USD
Confederation gold Specimen "Stirnlocke-Vreneli" Pattern 20 Francs 1897-B SP66+ PCGS, Bern mint, KM-Pn39, Fr-500, HMZ-21195b, Divo Proben-35. By Fritz Landry. Obv. Draped bust of Helvetia left, with 'wispy' forelock (stirnlocke), wearing hair in braid and with garland of edelweiss over shoulders; Alps in the background. Rev. Swiss cross on shield; all over branches and between denomination. An ultimate rarity within the Swiss series, with an alarmingly low mintage of just 12 pieces, this wondrous pattern provides a glimpse into what may have been for the Helvetia series. The so-called 'stirnlocke,' the enchanting lock of hair blown gently by the mountain breeze across her forehead, was an element designed and engraved by Fritz Landry, but was ultimately deemed 'too frivolous' at the mint and was removed from the version utilized for the subsequent business strikes. Impeccable surfaces, with a charming and resounding brilliance, along with a radiant luster, captivating the attention of the viewer, combine to create a stupendous specimen worthy of the finest cabinets and collections in the world. A similar specimen, also graded SP66+ PCGS, realized a hammer of ChF 130,000 in Sincona 14 (17 October 2013), lot 3560, while a SP65 PCGS was sold more recently in our ANA Signature sale (11 August 2016), lot 32513, for $90,000. Ex. NGSA 6 (30 November 2010), lot 926 (where it realized a hammer of ChF 130,000).
From the Bern Collection
Estimate: 100000-150000 USD