1919-B Brass Variety Switzerland 10 Rappen - XF - 1919 Helvetica 10 Rappen Swiss Ten Rappen 1919 - 3,000,000 Minted - WWI Emergency Issue

This listing is for the photographed 1919-B Brass Variety Switzerland 10 Rappen.

All Swiss coins have the legend of either Helvetia or Confœderatio Helvetica, the Latin name of the Swiss Confederation, along with the year number. The 5, 10, and 20 centimes coins show a head of Liberty in profile, designed by Karl Schwenzer (1879). The 1⁄2, 1, and 2 francs coins show a standing figure of the national personification Helvetia, designed by Albert Walch (1860). The 5 francs coin on the obverse shows a portrait of an "alpine herdsman" (Alphirte), designed by Paul Burkhard (1922), and on the reverse the federal coat of arms; additionally it has the inscription Dominus Providebit embossed on the edge.

Before World War I, Swiss 10 Rappen coins were normally made from copper-nickel. During WWI, however, Switzerland experienced shortages and disruptions in the availability of certain metals. As a result, Switzerland temporarily substituted brass for copper-nickel for the 10 Rappen in 1918 and 1919. The 1919 issue is particularly interesting because the year's production was divided between brass and copper-nickel. Contemporary Swiss records indicate that approximately half of the 6 million 1919 pieces were brass

1919-B Brass Variety Switzerland 10 Rappen - XF - 1919 Helvetica 10 Rappen Swiss Ten Rappen 1919 - 3,000,000 Minted - WWI Emergency Issue