I bought this silver round at the local coin and bullion shop the other day just because it looked neat and was reasonably priced. As usual the guy behind the counter knew nothing about it. They had a few, stored loose in a box with some other rounds and bars. I realize that this is not a rare or valuable coin or anything, but it is neat and I’m interested to learn more about it. I have found some others for sale on-line, but very little information about them. Its diameter is approximately that of a quarter and it is pretty thick (25mm dia x 7mm thick are the dimensions listed on those I’ve seen for sale on-line), and it is supposedly one troy ounce (the batteries in my scale are dead and it will be a few days before new ones come in the mail so I can’t verify that at the moment). One side has a depiction of a mountain scene with the word "TETON" below and "GOLDEN WEST" above it. The other side is all text: "SWISS OF AMERICA, 999 FINE SILVER, ONE OUNCE." What I have learned so far is that according to tokencatalog.com it was made by the Draper Mint, which is no longer in business. Based on dates of the 1970s for other “Swiss of America” rounds and bars I see for sale I am guessing that it was made sometime during that decade, probably the first half of it. And that is about all I can find about it. I haven’t found any information about the Draper Mint or the Swiss of America brand anywhere other than in descriptions of items being sold and the link to tokencatalog.com above. I wonder if the Draper Mint was in Draper, UT, and if so why would a company in Utah use a “Swiss” brand and feature a scene from Wyoming? I would expect a different theme if it was Mormon run, or at least a further western subject like CA or OR if it was from UT. Or is Draper a person/family? Was there a practical reason for the quarter sized diameter, like to fit in available coin rolls, or was it someone’s ascetic preference? Did they make a lot of these and from a specific source of silver or for a particular reason/customer? If anyone knows anything about this round and where I can learn more about it please chime in!
I have the scale powered up now and this round weighs in at 31.14 grams, so it is what it should be. Does anyone know anything at all about this? Should I have posted in the bullion forum instead of here?
Mint was in Draper, UT. Company was founded by a Lloyd A. Hewitt, now deceased. His obituary has some history of the company in it. larkinmortuary.com/obituary/loyd-hewitt
