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| World coins Switzerland 20 Batzen Silver Coin Canton of Zurich |
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| Swiss coins 20 Batzen Silver Coin |
Batzen is a coin produced by Bern, Switzerland from the 1492 until the 1850.
In Bern, 4 kreuzer = 1 batzen and 40 batzen = 1 thaler.
Obverse: Shield with garland at sides, wreath above, value in exergue.
Legend: CANTON ZÜRICH / 20. BATZ:
Reverse: Motto in threelines above date. All within wreath. Mint master´s initial (.B.) at 7 o'clock.
Legend: DOMINE CONSERVA NOS IN PACE ("Lord, preserve us in peace!") 1813
Mint at Zürich, Mint Master - Bruckmann (B)
Reference: HMZ 2-1173a, KM-186.
Weight: 14.61 gm
Diameter: 34 mm
Batzen
The Batzen is a coin that was minted from 1492 to 1850 in Bern. Named after Valerius Anshelm was the emblem of the canton, or the bear, "Bätz" which was printed on the reverse of the coin. The value of a Bernese Batzens corresponded four cruisers. Since the value of 60 guilders had the cruiser, a chunk corresponded to one-fifteenth of the guilder. Later, there were also «Grossi» (thickness, ie Groschen) to 5 Batzen.
Other Swiss cantons and some southern German states soon followed the example of Berne. The Batzen was. To widespread currency intermediate between the many circulating in Europe, large and small silver coins As the southern part of the Batzen very different grade were, spoke to the Reichstag in 1522 and 1524 against these coins. In southern Germany, they were minted until 1536, however, forbidden by the imperial coinage 1559th
The Batzen was originally silver, from 17 Century but minted in billon. The value of the Batzens differed over time depending on the mint. In the early 18th Century the whole Batzen stood at five Kreutzer (1/12 Gulden Empire), the regular Batzen at four kreutzers, the Basel and Zurich Batzen had reached 1/18 Gulden, the St. Gallen Batzen at 1/17 Gulden.
The first time the introduction of a single currency, Swiss 1798-1803 by the Helvetic Republic of the Batzen was also integrated into the system. A ten francs corresponded Batzen, a Batzen of another ten cents, with 10 Swiss francs were a Louis d'or equivalent.
After the end of the single currency the prerogative of coinage came to the cantons, which partially retained the decimal franc Batzen centime division (Aargau, Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Lucerne, Solothurn, Unterwalden, Uri, Vaud, Valais, train). Only in Neuchâtel one franc was worth 10 ½ Batzen. The other cantons led currencies with a shilling and florin Florin-Livres system. 1850 ended with the introduction of the new Swiss franc as the single currency in the era of Batzens. It should be noted that an old francs not a new Franken met. Seven Batzens were exchanged in 1850 for a new francs. Nevertheless, for a time was the term "Batzen" for ten cents of the new currency popular twenty centime piece was appropriately called "Zweibätzler»