Photo Credit: worldqualitycoins
Silver Swiss Shooting Medal from the City of Schaffhausen
Buy It Now Price: $295 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)
Pros:
-Struck in stunningly high relief, this is a 1956 silver Swiss shooting medal from the city of Schaffhausen. It measures 39 mm (1.54 inches) in diameter and was struck in solid silver.
-The medal depicts an exquisitely rendered, crowned ram on the obverse and the winner's name, Hefti Edwin, and date, 1956, surrounded by a wreath on the reverse.
-Schaffhausen is a small city in northern Switzerland that sits on the banks of the Rhine River. The city first appeared in historical records in 1045 AD and features a ram bursting out of a castle on its coat of arms.
-Some regions of Central Europe, especially Switzerland, have a deeply cherished tradition of holding shooting festivals once a year. Various Swiss cities and cantons have issued shooting medals to hand out as prizes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
-Shooting medals have been struck in gold, silver, bronze, tin and aluminum, but silver is the most common metal encountered.
-Mintages for Swiss shooting medals are often shockingly low - usually less than 1,000 pieces. In addition, attrition due to wear, loss and scrapping has reduced the extant population of these magnificent medals even further.
-This example is certified MS-65 by NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), a third-party grading service. This gives a powerful assurance of authenticity to the specimen.
-MS-65, or Mint State 65, is a phenomenally good state of preservation for a medal that is over 65 years old. This condition is just about as good as a medal (or coin) can get. While the grading scale theoretically goes up to 70, vanishingly few pieces are certified higher than MS-65.
-European art medals in general, and Swiss shooting medals in particular, are often overlooked in today's antique market. Consequently, despite their rarity, prices are usually quite reasonable.
-The modest $295 asking price for this silver Swiss shooting medal, coupled with its excellent condition and attractive design, should allow for rapid future price appreciation.
Other NGC Certified Silver Swiss Shooting Medals
Cons:
-This silver Swiss shooting medal is only from the mid 20th century. Although it exemplifies Mid-Century, European design wonderfully, older medals will usually sell for higher prices than more recent issues.
-This medal is struck from silver, which makes it desirable. But a similar medal struck from gold would appeal to collectors even more. However, it would also drive up the price commensurately.
-Cheaper silver Swiss shooting medals are available in the market, particularly if you are willing to forgo a specimen that has been third-party certified as mint state. You are paying a premium for quality here.
