Canton Basel, 1 Batzen 1806 [solved]

Hi again,

I have a coin Canton Basel - 1 Batzen 1806 in my collection that at first sight looks like KM 196.

( N#24093 )

However, upon closer inspection there are two significant differences. The coin seems to me to be made of copper rather than billon. The coat of arms also clearly differs from the picture used at KM 196.

Can someone clarify this for me?

Many thanks in advance.

I don't have a definitive answer, but many billion coins have very little silver and coins of that era often have significant die variations, especially from year to year.

It's a bad image, but this 1906 looks closer to your coin: https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/swiss-cantons-basel-batzen-km-196-1805-1810-cuid-1114245-duid-1552884

Here is another example that has a “coppery” look: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=10341809 , so I think yours is OK.

As mentioned by bjherbison, there were some changes between 1806 and 1809, notably in the value reverse changing from a roman numeral to a modern 1. 

My example is also copper looking

the color problem is probobly the result of a chemical cleaning in the not too distant past.

Now I have one last question about this coin: can/should I add it as a variant at km 196 or not?

Zwilly

Now I have one last question about this coin: can/should I add it as a variant at km 196 or not?

It's not a variant.  You could add it in the comments section to show the differences with the coin pictured.

Hi rsirian1,

Sorry for my ‘very last’ 😉 question, but actually I don't understand why you say this isn't a variant? Surely there is a significant difference, like the Roman numeral "I" with a modern "1"?

We all know coins where you need a magnifying glass to see the difference between the 'original' coin and his variant(s)?

Varieties refers to differences in coins of the same year (differences in one die from another).  Many times the variants are listed with separate year lines (for the same year).  This would be a change in the design. Usually this type of difference is given a different catalog number but obviously not always.  

Thank you for your crystal clear explanation!

I'll do as you suggest: adding in the comment section to show the differences from the coin pictured.

Regards.