Issuer |
Switzerland
![]() |
---|---|
Period |
Federal State (1848-date)
|
Type | Standard circulation coin |
Years | 1968-2023 |
Value | ½ Franc ½ CHF = USD 0.57 |
Currency | Franc (1850-date) |
Composition | Copper-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) |
Weight | 2.20 g |
Diameter | 18.20 mm |
Thickness | 1.25 mm |
Shape | Round |
Technique | Milled |
Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
Number | N# 181 |
References |
HMZ 2# 1206, ![]() ![]() ![]() And 5 more volumes. ![]() And 2 more volumes. ![]() And 2 more volumes. |
Series: Helvetia standing series
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
Wreath formed of oak and alpine rose branches tied with a ribbon below.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
½ Fr.
1969
Engraver: Antoine Bovy
Designer: Albert Walch
Reeded
© Saber82
Bern, Switzerland (1225-date) | |
Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975) | |
B | Bern, Switzerland (1225-date) |
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 The coins were released on 10 May 1968 and the old silver coins were withdrawn on 1 April 1971.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.
Picture: © Images courtesy of Alexandr Prokofyev.
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.
Picture: © Images courtesy of Alexandr Prokofyev.
22 stars coin alignment (KM# 23a.1, Schön# 27a.1):
Obverse: 22 stars
Alignment: coin
© World Coin Gallery
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
© World Coin Gallery
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.
Please sign in or create an account to manage your collection.
Date | Mintage | G | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC | Frequency | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Undetermined | |||||||||||||
1968 | 20 000 000 | $ 0.27 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.81 | 18% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | ||||
1968 B | 44 920 000 | $ 0.45 | $ 0.45 | $ 0.45 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.63 | $ 1.10 | 18% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||
1969 | 31 400 000 | $ 0.09 | $ 0.43 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.59 | $ 0.64 | $ 1.90 | 20% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||
1969 B | 51 704 000 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 2.20 | 18% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||
1970 | 52 620 000 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.57 | $ 2.40 | 24% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||
1971 | 34 472 000 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | 18% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||
1972 | 9 996 000 | $ 0.14 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.61 | $ 0.61 | $ 1.10 | 7% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | ||||
1973 | 5 000 000 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.71 | 4% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | ||||||||
1974 | 45 006 000 | $ 0.09 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.55 | $ 1.40 | $ 1.90 | 20% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||
1974 | 2 400 | 0.3% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1975 | 27 234 000 | $ 0.31 | $ 0.31 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.81 | $ 1.70 | 14% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||
1975 | 10 000 | 0.2% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1976 | 10 009 000 | $ 0.27 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 1.70 | 7% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||||
1976 | 5 130 | 0.16% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1977 | 19 011 000 | $ 0.17 | $ 0.17 | $ 0.17 | $ 0.46 | $ 0.50 | 10% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||||
1977 | 7 030 | 0.17% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1978 | 20 818 000 | $ 0.32 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | 11% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | ||||||
1978 | 10 000 | 0.3% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1979 | 27 014 000 | $ 0.27 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 1.30 | 13% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||||
1979 | 10 000 | 0.20% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1980 | 31 064 000 | $ 0.47 | $ 0.47 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.64 | $ 2.00 | 14% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||
1980 | 10 000 | 0.4% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1981 | 30 155 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.58 | $ 1.40 | 14% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment | |||||
1981 | 10 000 | 0.2% | KM# 23a.1; 22 stars; coin alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1982 | 30 151 000 | $ 0.35 | $ 0.35 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.99 | $ 1.90 | 15% | KM# 23a.2; 22 stars; medal alignment | |||
1982 | 10 000 | 0.3% | KM# 23a.2; 22 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1983 | 22 020 000 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 1.10 | $ 1.70 | 10% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||
1983 | 11 000 | 0.20% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1984 | 22 036 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.88 | 10% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||
1984 | 14 000 | 0.3% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1985 | 6 026 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | 4% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||||
1985 | 12 000 | 0.15% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1986 B | 5 021 400 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.98 | 4% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||||
1986 B | 10 000 | 0.16% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1987 B | 10 019 100 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.59 | $ 0.69 | $ 0.95 | 6% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
1987 B | 8 800 | 0.15% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1988 B | 5 020 700 | $ 0.26 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | 4% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
1988 B | 9 050 | 0.14% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1989 B | 10 022 700 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | 6% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||||
1989 B | 8 800 | 0.2% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1990 B | 20 023 100 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.55 | 9% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
1990 B | 8 900 | 0.16% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1991 B | 10 026 100 | $ 0.32 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | 5% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||
1991 B | 9 900 | 0.13% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1992 B | 30 020 300 | $ 0.51 | $ 0.51 | $ 0.51 | $ 0.51 | $ 0.98 | 11% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||
1992 B | 7 450 | 0.2% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1993 B | 13 016 400 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | 6% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
1993 B | 6 300 | 0.11% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1994 B | 15 017 300 | $ 0.51 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.81 | 7% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||
1994 B | 6 100 | 0.13% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1995 B | 10 018 000 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.62 | 5% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||
1995 B | 6 000 | 0.15% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1996 B | 8 017 300 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.81 | 4% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
1996 B | 6 100 | 0.09% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1997 B | 6 016 500 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.76 | $ 1.90 | 3% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
1997 B | 5 500 | 0.12% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1998 B | 6 016 000 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.49 | $ 0.49 | $ 1.90 | 3% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
1998 B | 4 800 | 0.09% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
1999 B | 5 016 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.80 | 3% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||||
1999 B | 5 000 | 0.06% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2000 B | 4 020 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.86 | 2% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||||
2000 B | 5 500 | 0.08% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2001 B | 6 022 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.70 | $ 1.20 | $ 1.80 | 3% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2001 B | 5 184 | 0.08% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2002 B | 2 024 000 | $ 0.60 | $ 0.93 | $ 1.90 | 1.5% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||
2002 B | 4 518 | 0.12% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2003 B | 2 022 000 | $ 0.43 | $ 0.78 | $ 1.90 | 1.5% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||
2003 B | 4 520 | 0.12% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2004 B | 2 026 000 | $ 0.54 | 1.6% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||||
2004 B | 4 168 | 0.07% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2005 B | 1 024 000 | 0.9% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||||||
2005 B | 3 783 | 0.08% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2006 B | 2 025 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.70 | $ 0.96 | $ 1.90 | 1.6% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2006 B | 4 000 | 0.06% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2007 B | 18 024 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | 6% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||
2007 B | 3 415 | 0.11% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2008 B | 25 022 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.89 | $ 0.89 | $ 0.89 | 7% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||
2008 B | 3 286 | 0.09% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2009 B | 27 022 000 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.52 | $ 1.10 | 7% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2009 B | 3 115 | 0.19% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2010 B | 27 022 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.63 | $ 0.63 | $ 1.10 | 6% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2010 B | 4 000 | 0.14% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2011 B | 15 022 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.56 | 4% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||||
2011 B | 4 000 | 0.10% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2012 B | 20 022 000 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.56 | 5% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||
2012 B | 4 000 | 0.09% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2013 B | 23 020 000 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.52 | $ 0.52 | $ 1.10 | 4% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2013 B | 3 500 | 0.09% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2014 B | 15 000 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.59 | $ 0.78 | $ 1.90 | 4% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2014 B | 3 000 | 0.14% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2015 B | 18 026 000 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.73 | $ 0.73 | 3% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2015 B | 3 000 | 0.11% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2016 B | 15 028 000 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.54 | 2% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2016 B | 3 000 | 0.13% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2017 B | 14 029 500 | $ 0.54 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.81 | $ 0.81 | 1.5% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||
2017 B | 2 500 | 0.09% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2018 B | 10 027 000 | $ 1.00 | 0.9% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||||
2018 B | 2 500 | 0.18% | KM# 23a.3; 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2019 B | 10 019 500 | $ 2.00 | 0.6% | 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||||
2019 B | 2 500 | $ 2.30 | 0.15% | 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | |||||||||
2020 B | 10 017 500 | $ 2.00 | 0.2% | 23 stars; medal alignment | |||||||||
2020 B | 2 500 | 0.05% | 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2021 B | 5 018 500 | 0.14% | 23 stars; medal alignment | ||||||||||
2021 B | 2 500 | 0.06% | 23 stars; medal alignment; proof | ||||||||||
2022 B | 1 011 000 | 0.09% | |||||||||||
2022 B | 2 000 | 0.05% | Proof | ||||||||||
2023 B | 1 020 750 | 0.09% | |||||||||||
2023 B | 2 000 | 0.05% | Proof |
Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.
Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this coin. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.
Members from this site want to exchange it: francoisdes, Rotem, samo samo, landycollector, gemini955, RichW, el7591, JM81, leprédateur, Jpand, G.IG., Vultur, Carles1981, nestor_coin, nadc0408, Bistricanec, abarad, josh-nativ-AR, ludcor, Beverly Lopes, girador53, sacha24, LeModi, cyprusalexander, HRNumis, fabatka, Colombeau, Crapgamer, lulu17, Bulgaria1999, fredyzh, am_oul, Mango Man, W.Z., GiannaReggio, Moose59, MARCO SANTOS, SantaKlaus, giannisp, sentieroit, jcdelier, Ljubomir222, Pipo7, Yur13, Klauss, bonzis, nukn, tonterias, Vinc', Mörtel_43, Ericopter…
» See the details of the coins available for swap