Switzerland 2014 Schaffhausen Shooting Festival 50 Swiss Francs Thaler Silver Pf

Description

In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!
SOLD OUT at the Mint!
This rare (mintage only 1,200) and truly beautiful silver proof from Switzerland (part of the long running and traditional series of Swiss Shooting Thalers) offers
an historical design depicting a marksman and European Rhine Valley castle!
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
City of Schaffhausen, in the Canton of Schaffhausen (for which Schaffhausen is the cantonal capital). We've managed to secure a few of the 50 Francs
from a total mintage of only 1,200
!
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!
Investment Note -
The mintage limit for 2014 is
only 1,200 silver shooting taler
s - much lower than in previous years,
making this beauty truly rare!
These sold out at the Mint on pre-release, and so are certain to be sought after for years to come as a
key to the entire Shooting Thaler series!
Get in on the ground floor and get yours now!
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.
The Munot Medieval Castle in Historic Schaffhausen
Munot Castle is a circular fortification in the center of the old town in the Swiss city of Schaffhausen. The old portion of the city has many fine Renaissance era buildings decorated with exterior frescos and sculpture, as well as the impressive old cantonal fortress, the Munot.
Schaffhausen dates to the 11th century, if not earlier. It was a city state in the Middle Ages, documented to have struck its own coins from 1045. As you can see from the photos, the city sits astride the Rhine River, a major trade route both then and now. The nearby Rhine Falls in Neuhausen am Rheinfall are Europe's largest waterfall, and a major obstacle to this trade, and Schaffhausen represented the point at which boats and barges disembarked people and goods for portage around these falls. Tolls were charged, gold and silver changed hands, and the Munot Castle was built for protection of both the good citizens of the town as well as travels and merchants.
The current, ring-shaped stronghold sits on the high ground of the city and dates to the sixteenth century, but the Town Guard is much older. Protecting the town and trade from the majestic fortress, the Guard has been ensuring law and order continuously since at least 1377. Little changed over the years, Schaffhausen is like taking a trip back in time. If it weren't electric lighting, the narrow streets of the Old Town might convince you that you've been transported back several centuries. Many of the town houses sport the richly painted facades and innumerable bay windows that are the hallmark of central European Renaissance architecture.
Schaffhausen (the city) is also the cantonal capital of Schaffhausen (the canton, the Swiss political division equivalent to a state). Schaffhausen was a city-state in the Middle Ages. Today it is the northernmost canton of Switzerland and the only one lying entirely on the right bank of the Rhine. It lies west of Lake Constance and separates the German exclave of Büsingen am Hochrhein from the rest of Germany. Well-regarded white Riesling grapes are grown and wine produced (as well as several other varieties). The main industries, however, are the production metal goods, watches and jewelry - not surprising, since this
is
Switzerland! For those with a thirst to quench, in need of an ale to quaff, is a brewery in the canton.
A Beautiful, Traditional European Design
Here's an exquisitely beautiful, classic vignette certain to please the most traditional and refined tastes in design, engraving and aesthetics. In a remarkable use of perspective, a Swiss sharpshooter in the foreground shoulders his beloved rifle and looks into the distance. The marksman raises his traditional Bavarian Alpine Tracht hat (complete with feather) in his left hand and signals his compatriot in the tower of the Munot Castle; clearly, both are members of the Schaffhausen Town Guard! The powerful citadel stands on strategic high ground that dominates the Rhine valley in which the city is located. All is safe and well in the town of Schaffhausen, as it has been for centuries. The entire scene is executed in a blast-white, cameo proof finish that represents the culmination of the minter's art.
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 French 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
2014
Face Value
50 Francs
Weight
25.00 g
Diameter
37.00 mm
Mintage Limit
1,200
Finish
Proof
Composition
.900 Fine Silver
Edge
Reeded (milled, serrated)
Certificate
Included
Packaging
Encapsulated
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