5 Franc Switzerland Silver

Switzerland, Schaffhausen. Silver Shooting Thaler (5 Fr.) Coin.

Mint Year: 1865
Mintage: 10.000 pcs.
Designer: Antoine Bovy
Denomination: 5 Francs
References: Davenport 382, HMZ 2-1343f, KM-XS8.
Material: Silver (.835)
Weight: 25.02gm
Diameter: 37mm

Obverse: Draped and mailed figure of Helvetia, wearing turrented crown (as Tyche), seated right holding shield and laurel wreath and sword between legs. A young boy ("Tellknabe") standing before her, holding a pierced apple on a shooter´s arrow in raised left hand. City walls in background.

Reverse: rms of Schaffhausen superimposed upon Swiss cross in quatrelobe.
Legend: EIDGENÖSSISCHES SCHÜTZENFEST IN SCHAFFHAUSEN 1865 – 5 Fr.
Translated: "Federal shooting festival in Schaffhausen 1865 – 5 francs"

Schaffhausen was a city state in the Middle Ages, documented to have struck its own coins starting in 1045. For a time it was under Habsburg domination, but regained its independence in 1415. It allied itself with Zurich in 1457, and became a full member of the Swiss Confederation in 1501. The first railroad came to Schaffhausen in 1857.