Description: This coin celebrates the heroic defense of Zurich by 1,300 young pikemen against an invading French force of 30,000 in 1444. In a surprise tactic, the small Swiss force crossed the Bir river to engage the French cavalry and cross-bow troops. Overmatched and weakened after several hours of pitched combat, the pikemen retreated to the nearby St. Jakob Hospital to make their last stand. The French then brought up artillery to bombard the hospital. In the end, all the Swiss soldiers were killed. However, the ferocity of the Swiss resistance deterred the French from further advance, leading to a strategic victory for Switzerland in the Old Zurich war of the 1440s. The obverse shows a Swiss fighter hurling a rock while removing a French arrow from his chest. On the reverse the inscription, translated from Latin, reads: "Death preferred to being conquered." Engraved on the edge is "Dominus Providebit"—"The Lord will provide." An impressive tribute to 1,300 heroic Swiss soldiers 500 years ago.
Price: 60 USD
Location: Berkeley, California
End Time: 2023-12-07T23:09:27.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Circulated/Uncirculated: Circulated
Denomination: Five Francs
Composition: Silver
Year: 1944
Grade: Ungraded
Country/Region of Manufacture: Switzerland
Certification: Uncertified
