Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 23 28 Sep 2018
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Foreign Coins, Switzerland, pattern 20 francs, 1871, engraved by Durussel, crowned head l., in circle of stars, date below, rev. HELVETIA, shield of arms between sprigs, value below (KM.Pn19; Fr.492), certified and graded by PCGS as Specimen 64, a beautiful example having a full proof impression of the dies and lovely colour, very rare
Edouard Durussel (1842-1888) apprenticed in Switzerland but was trained at the Royal Mint, London, for three years; recommended by Antoine Bovy, he was employed as an engraver in Paris from 1865-67, after which he married in London and again worked as an engraver. In 1869, he settled in Berne and set up a die-sinking business, principally producing medals from 1876-88. This pattern for the gold 20 francs was one of his finest pieces, which he himself described as portraying a symbolic image of Liberty. All of his patterns are very rare, this one especially so; the dies were destroyed in 1890, shortly after Durussel's death.
Estimate: 10000-15000 GBP
Edouard Durussel (1842-1888) apprenticed in Switzerland but was trained at the Royal Mint, London, for three years; recommended by Antoine Bovy, he was employed as an engraver in Paris from 1865-67, after which he married in London and again worked as an engraver. In 1869, he settled in Berne and set up a die-sinking business, principally producing medals from 1876-88. This pattern for the gold 20 francs was one of his finest pieces, which he himself described as portraying a symbolic image of Liberty. All of his patterns are very rare, this one especially so; the dies were destroyed in 1890, shortly after Durussel's death.
Estimate: 10000-15000 GBP