(sold for $255.0)

1816, Switzerland, Bern (Canton). Silver 40 Batzen (on French Ecu) Coin. Rare!
Countermarked Ecu coin. One of 5,000 existing pieces.

Mint year: 1816-1819 (host coin 1790).
Denomination: 40 Batzen / Ecu (host coin)
References: KM-178 ($1100 in XF!). RR!
Region: Bern (Switzerland) / Toulouse (M, France)
Condition: VF host coin (which had weight adjusting marks), otherwise nice XF countermarks!
Mintage: According to Krause only 5,000 pieces (for all types and host coin combinations) of this type have survived!
Weight: 29.05gm
Diameter: 40mm
Material: Silver

Obverse: Head of Louis XV left, privy mark (dog left) below. Incuse shield-shaped countermark with arms of Bern in right field.
Legend: LUD . XV . D . G . FR . ET . NAV . REX .

Reverse: Crown above oval french royal arms within wreath. Incuse shield-shaped countermark with Denomination (40 Batzen).
Legend: SIT NOMEN DOMINI (M) BENEDICTUM * I786

During the period from 1816 to 1819 an estimated number of 660,000 French Ecus of Louis XV and Louis XVI (dated 1726-1793), along with older 6 Livres and Helvetian Republic coins were counterstamped (and additionally reeded - see picture below) with a bear and 40 BZ. on shields. Approximately ninety percent of the counterstamped pieces were melted by 1851. It is estimated, that some 5,000 pieces or less still exist!

The canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south lies the Valais. East of the canton of Bern lie the cantons of Uri, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Lucerne and Aargau. The canton of Bern is bilingual (French and German). The cantonal capital, also the Federal capital, is Bern.