Basel's cantonal coinage authority retained the right to strike small-denomination billon pieces into the early nineteenth century, even as the newly established Swiss Confederation was moving — fitfully — toward monetary consolidation. The 1 Rappen issues of this period circulated alongside French decimal coinage that had flooded the region during the Napoleonic reorganization of the Helvetic Republic, which collapsed in 1803. Small change was chronically short throughout the canton.
HMZ 2#114 distinguishes several die variants across the emission years. Survivors in any condition above heavily worn are genuinely uncommon — the denomination absorbed hard daily use and the alloy was unforgiving of it.
Basel's cantonal coinage authority retained the right to strike small-denomination billon pieces into the early nineteenth century, even as the newly established Swiss Confederation was moving — fitfully — toward monetary consolidation. The 1 Rappen issues of this period circulated alongside French decimal coinage that had flooded the region during the Napoleonic reorganization of the Helvetic Republic, which collapsed in 1803. Small change was chronically short throughout the canton.
HMZ 2#114 distinguishes several die variants across the emission years. Survivors in any condition above heavily worn are genuinely uncommon — the denomination absorbed hard daily use and the alloy was unforgiving of it.