Switzerland 2012 Graubunden Shooting Festival 50 Swiss Francs Thaler Silver Prf

Description

In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!
SOLD OUT at the Mint!
This rare and truly beautiful silver proof follows in a long line of Swiss Shooting Thalers, with a traditional, allegorical design - this year depicting a half nude Helvetia!
Talisman Coins is absolutely thrilled to be able to bring you this beautiful, proof finish Shooting Thaler. This year's Shooting Festival is held in the
Swiss
Canton of Graubünden (for which Chur is the cantonal capital). We've managed to secure a few of the silver 50 Francs
from a total mintage of only 1,500!
These hard to find
Shooting Thalers
(or Talers; so-called from the days when that was their face value) have been issued since the mid-1800s in tiny numbers, and are very collectible, to say nothing of extremely attractive!
Shooting Festivals
Swiss marksmanship is legendary, dating to the hero
William Tell
(who shot an apple off his son's head). This tradition of superior marksmanship was established during the Old Swiss Confederacy, in the 15th century, when Shooting Festival participants showed off their aim using the crossbow. Of course,
Shooting Festivals
are meant to be fun, but they have a practical side, too - they keep the citizen soldiery drilled and sharp! This has always been of particular importance in a country like Switzerland, with a relatively small population and surrounded on all sides by potential enemies.
Calling shooting is the national sport of
Switzerland
would be an understatement, to say the least! Today, the Swiss Shooting Association boasts 85,000 active, dues paying members! That amounts to over 1% of the total population! At a Swiss Federal Shooting Festival (a major event, held every five years), over 50,000 marksmen will convene for four weeks to demonstrate their shooting skills.
A Striking, Allegorical Design
Here's an exquisitely beautiful, classical vignette certain to please the most traditional and refined tastes in design, engraving and aesthetics. The standing lady in question is an allegorical figure. This striking beauty depicts the exquisite figure of the half nude Helvetia (the female personification of the Swiss Republic). She is dressed in her traditional costume, a Roman-style, classical toga, and wears a liberty cap. Her right hand rests on a large shield, emblazoned with the Swiss cross. With her left hand, Helvetia awards the laurel wreath of victory to a kneeling sharpshooter marksman, crowning him. He holds the rifle of his trade and has deferentially removed his cap (which rests on the ground).
On the reverse, the traditional wreath of oak leaves (on the left) and laurel (on the right) surround the denomination of 50 Francs. Beneath the wreath, a marksman's powder horn and bandolier hang from a pair of crossed rifles or muskets. The legend indicates (in both Italian and German, two of the four official languages of Switzerland) that the coin is redeemable during the shooting festival (not that you'd want to!).
Packaging
Each coin is encapsulated and includes an official certificate of authenticity. The coins were not issued in a box.
Specifications
Country
Switzerland
Year of Issue
2012
Face Value
50 Francs
Weight
25.00 g
Diameter
37.00 mm
Mintage Limit
1,500
Finish
Proof
Composition
.900 Fine Silver
Edge
Reeded (milled, serrated)
Certificate
Included
Packaging
Encapsulated
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