Batzen - Franz Friedrich Ambüel

Franz Friedrich Ambüel served as Bishop of Sion from 1760 until his death in 1780, presiding over the Valais during a period of mounting tension between the episcopal authority and the local bourgeoisie — a conflict that would eventually strip the bishops of temporal power entirely within two decades. The batzen, a denomination with deep Swiss roots tracing to Bern in the early sixteenth century, remained the workhorse of small commerce in the region long after larger political units had rationalized their coinage systems.

Billon issues from Sion are frequently found corroded or poorly preserved due to the low silver content interacting with the alluvial environment of the Rhône valley.