A friend of mine has a large gold piece that he wants to sell and I am trying to find out if it is only of bullion value or if it has some collectible value over that of its gold content. The piece is a 12 unzen Swiss Helvetia piece minted in Proof and dated 1988. It has the seated lady with the scepter on one side and the lion on the rock on the other. The mintage is stated at 250 on the insert inside the packaging. Does this piece have any value above the gold content? Thank you, sccoinguy
Welcome to the forum. 12 unzen = 12 ounces in German. Any other words or numbers on the coin? A picture would be better.
It does not have much writing on it, just the word Lucerne at the top and the 12 unzen at the bottom. The small insert says it is 12 ounces or 373.2 grams of 9999 fine gold, mintage of 250 and made at the Argor-Heraeus mint. Just wondering if this big chunk of gold is a collectible or a basic store of bullion.
Here is something sounding simmilar. Switzerland-1988 proof, no mintage number, 31.1000 g., Gold, 31.9 mm. Obverse: Helvetia on throne holding shield. Reverse: Male lion left, resting. Reverse inscription: Luzern. The coin has a reeded edge and it's value as of the year 2005 in proof $25.00 American. That sounds low. I found it in the 4th edition of Unusual World Coins. and it's catalog number is X# MB25a and it's called an OUNCE.
Here is something closer. Go to this address: http://www.pandaamerica.com/subcategory.asp?subcat=130&categ=32&grp=1&sortby=datedesc If that is the coin, it's worth over $10,000 Dollars. Hope that helps.
The original message has the coin inscription as "12 unzen." 12 unzen is 12 ounces, in German. Other than the mintage number, (250 and 50) it sounds pretty close. If nothing else, it will give sccoinguy a place to start.
Thank you for the comments. I called out to PandaAmerica and they told me that the piece was just a bullion coin and that they were buyers at about $10 below spot price. Jerry/sccoinguy
