1939 Lucerne 'Thaler'

Shooting Thalers (German: Schützentaler) are commemorative coins minted for the Shooting Festival (Schützenfest) tournaments that were held in various Cantons within the Swiss Confederation.

The 19th century Confederation issues were minted to legal fineness, and were thus allowed to be denominated at five Francs. These issues are commonly considered semi-medallic, though they could circulate due to their size and weight being the same as that of the regular 5 Franc issues. Issues dating in the 20th and 21st centuries were redeemable at face value at the Shooting Festival or at participating businesses, while all issues 1855 and prior were strictly legal tender.

Swiss Cantonal Shooting Commemoratives edit

Location Year Denomination Mintage
Chur in Graubünden 1842 4 Fr. 6,000
Glarus 1847 40 Batzen 3,200
Geneva 1851 10 Fr. 1,000

19th Century Swiss Confederation Shooting Festival Commemoratives edit

Location Date Denomination Mintage
Solothurn 1855 5 Fr. 3,000
Bern 1857 5 Fr. 5,191
Zürich 1859 5 Fr. 6,000
Stans in Nidwalden 1861 5 Fr. 6,000
La Chaux-de-Fonds in Neuchâtel 1863 5 Fr. 6,000
Schaffhausen 1865 5 Fr. 10,000
Schwyz 1867 5 Fr. 8,000
Zug 1869 5 Fr. 6,000
Zürich 1872 5 Fr. 10,000
St. Gallen 1874 5 Fr. 15,000
Lausanne 1876 5 Fr. 20,000
Basel 1879 5 Fr. 30,000
Fribourg 1881 5 Fr. 30,000
Lugano in Ticino 1883 5 Fr. 30,000
Bern 1885 5 Fr. 25,000

20th and 21st Century Swiss Confederation Shooting Festival Commemoratives edit

Location Date Denomination Mintage Location Date Denomination Mintage
Fribourg 1934 5 Fr. 40,650 Neuhausen am Rheinfall in Schaffhausen 1997 500 Fr. 97
Fribourg 1934 100 Fr. 2,000 Schwyz 1998 50 Fr. 1,500
Lucerne 1939 5 Fr. 40,000 Schwyz 1998 500 Fr. 98
Lucerne 1939 100 Fr. 6,000 Zürich 1999 5 Fr. 2,500
Oberhasli in Bern 1984 50 Fr. 6,300 Zürich 1999 20 Fr. 10,000
Oberhasli in Bern 1984 1,000 Fr. 300 Sion in Valais 1999 50 Fr. 1,500
Altdorf in Uri 1985 50 Fr. 3,500 Zürich 1999 200 Fr. 100
Altdorf in Uri 1985 1,000 Fr. 300 Sion in Valais 1999 500 Fr. 99
Appenzell 1986 50 Fr. 3,700 Bière in Vaud 2000 50 Fr. 3,500
Appenzell 1986 1,000 Fr. 300 Bière in Vaud 2000 500 Fr. 300
Glarus 1987 50 Fr. 3,200 Altdorf in Uri 2001 50 Fr. 1,500
Glarus 1987 1,000 Fr. 300 Altdorf in Uri 2001 500 Fr. 150
Brugg in Aargau 1988 50 Fr. 3,000 Zürich 2002 50 Fr. 1,500
Brugg in Aargau 1988 1,000 Fr. 400 Zürich 2002 500 Fr. 150
Menzingen in Zug 1989 50 Fr. 2,200 Liestal in Basel-Landschaft 2003 50 Fr. 1,500
Menzingen in Zug 1989 1,000 Fr. 250 Liestal in Basel-Landschaft 2003 500 Fr. 150
Winterthur in Zürich 1990 50 Fr. 5,000 Fribourg 2004 50 Fr. 1,500
Winterthur in Zürich 1990 1,000 Fr. 250 Fribourg 2004 500 Fr. 150
Langenthal in Bern 1991 50 Fr. 4,000 Brusio in Graubünden 2005 50 Fr. 1,500
Langenthal in Bern 1991 1,000 Fr. 400 Brusio in Graubünden 2005 500 Fr. 150
Dielsdorf in Zürich 1992 50 Fr. 1,750 Solothurn 2006 50 Fr. 2,000
Dielsdorf in Zürich 1992 1,000 Fr. 175 Solothurn 2006 500 Fr. 200
Weinfelden in Thurgau 1993 50 Fr. 2,200 Lucerne 2007 50 Fr. 2,000
Weinfelden in Thurgau 1993 1,000 Fr. 200 Lucerne 2007 500 Fr. 200
Rorschach in St. Gallen 1994 50 Fr. 2,200 Geneva 2008 50 Fr. 1,500
Rorschach in St. Gallen 1994 1000 Fr. 200 Geneva 2008 500 Fr. 150
Thun in Bern 1995 50 Fr. 5,000 Obwalden 2009 50 Fr. 1,500
Thun in Bern 1995 500 Fr. 500 Obwalden 2009 500 Fr. 175
Sempach in Lucerne 1996 50 Fr. 1,500 Aarau in Aargau 2010 50 Fr. 2,000
Sempach in Lucerne 1996 500 Fr. 96 Aarau in Aargau 2010 500 Fr. 200
Neuhausen am Rheinfall in Schaffhausen 1997 50 Fr. 1,500        

Entymology edit

The term "shooting thaler" is technically incorrect, though it is the accepted term for these issues. No coins were ever issued with the denomination of thaler in the Swiss confederation, however many silver dollar-sized coins have been given the name unofficialy.

Other Countries edit

Some other European coin-issuing entities have minted coins to honor or promote shooting festivals that took place within their territory, though they would not be of interest to someone who only collects Swiss shooting thalers. The most notable include the German States of Baden, Bremen and Frankfurt am Main, as well as the Swiss canton of Vaud.

References edit

Bruce, Colin R., II Unusual World Coins Iola: Krause Publications, 2007

External links edit


Category:Coins by country