CoinWeek Giveaway # 641 Sponsored by…1901 Luzern Swiss Shooting Fest Silver Medal

This week’s Coin Giveaway features a striking piece of Swiss civic history: a 1901 R-879b Swiss Shooting Fest silver medal from Luzern, graded NGC MS-64 Matte. At 45 mm, it has the size and presence collectors expect from the great Swiss shooting medals of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Yet it tells a larger story than marksmanship alone.

A Medal Rooted in Swiss Shooting Tradition

Switzerland’s shooting festivals grew from a national tradition that linked military readiness, local pride, and democratic fellowship. The Swiss federal shooting festivals, or Eidgenössische Schützenfeste, date to 1824 and became major national competitions organized around Switzerland’s shooting culture. Commemorative silver medals later became an important part of that tradition.

Luzern’s Patriotic Setting in 1901

Luzern, or Lucerne, made a perfect stage in 1901. The city stood at the emotional center of old Swiss legend. Lake Lucerne, the mountains, and the story of William Tell gave the festival a powerful patriotic setting. The 1901 Federal Shooting Festival ran from June 30 through July 11, 1901, and the medal came from Hans Frei of Basel.

Helvetia, William Tell, and Swiss National Identity

Frei avoided a simple shooting-range scene. Instead, he created a national allegory. One side shows a youthful Helvetia in helmet and armor, facing right. Behind her sits the landscape of central Switzerland, including Lake Lucerne and the chapel associated with Tell. The design turns the medal into a statement of Swiss vigilance. A contemporary festival description reportedly read the image as a visual expression of “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

The other side roots the medal firmly in Luzern. The city arms appear over a large Swiss cross, with a laurel branch and the festival legend. The inscription EIDGENOESSISCHES SCHVETZENFEST and LVZERN announces both the national event and the host city. The laurel suggests victory. Meanwhile, the Swiss cross gives the design its federal meaning.

Why Collectors Prize the 1901 Luzern Shooting Medal

Collectors know this medal as Richter-879b. Auction descriptions list it in silver at 45 mm, with examples weighing about 35 to 36 grams. Other collector references note a mintage of 7,000 pieces and matte surfaces.

That makes the medal available enough to collect, yet far removed from modern mass production. Many examples show hairlines, cabinet friction, or handling. Therefore, a certified NGC MS-64 Matte example offers strong eye appeal for the type.

This Week’s Giveaway

This giveaway medal also captures a key moment in the evolution of Swiss shooting medals. Earlier pieces often copied the weight and feel of large silver thalers. By the early 1900s, these medals still carried that grand format. However, they also served a growing collector audience. After 1901, many later issues became smaller as costs and tastes changed.

For today’s collector, the 1901 Luzern Swiss Shooting Fest medal offers far more than silver. It brings together Helvetia, William Tell country, Swiss military culture, and Basel medallic art in one bold object. It is a souvenir of a festival, a patriotic artwork, and a handsome survivor from Switzerland’s Belle Époque.

Read More about World Coins on CoinWeek

Entries into our Contest are accepted from  May 16th  until 8 AM on Saturday May 23rd, 2026

Links to Entry Forms,  Extra Entry Options and Terms are Below

The CoinWeek Giveaway is open to all US Citizens 18 yrs and older. Just submit your Email Address into the Entry Form – CLICK HERE, and you will recieve One entry into the Giveaway. Good luck and enjoy the contest! Get up to 6 Extra Entries into this week’s Giveaway……. Follow the Links below. NOTE: ALL Entry pages and Options links  OPEN in new windows, so once you have finished your entry, just close the tab and you will return to this Main Giveaway Page to continue selecting additional Entry opportunities !

Do you want to get additional enties to this weeks contest? Just go to our Facebook Page and find the CoinWeek Giveway announcement. Click on the “LIKE Button” and get 1 extra entry.  If you choose to Add A Comment, you will receive an additional extra entry into the Giveaway. That’s  all there is to it. More Chances to win !

Remember: Close the Entry Window Tab in your browser and you will return to the Giveaway Home page

We have another way to recieve additional entries to the CoinWeek Giveaway.  Just go to the CoinWeek website and browse ANY of the articles we have on the Home page. Open and read the any article then place a comment at the bottom of the page. You will be recieve an additional 4 entries into the CoinWeek Giveaway for the current giveaway.

Note:  You need to stay on the CoinWeek site for at least a minute. In order for us to record your entry and comment, we need enough time to verify the additional enties. Thanks!

Sign up for SMS and we will text you with the latest Rare Coin News, Special Offers,  Discounts, and More……..  It is 100% free, and you can cancel at any time.

Sign Up for our FREE TEXT Message Alerts. and Get 5 EXTRA enties into EVERY Giveaway  as long as you remain an SMS subscriber

PLUS: You are automatically entered into Special CoinWeek MEMBER ONLY Quarterly Giveaways that will be announced via Text Message Only! This will be FUN!

Finally, CoinWeek offers 8 Different Newsletters you can subscribe to.  Go To The Newsletter Signup Form, select which newsletter topic(s) you are interested in and Subscribe.

Newsletters include: Auctions, US Coins, Ancient Coins, World Coins, Bullion & Precious Metals, Paper Money, New Coin Releases, and the Generic Mailing List.

For each Newsletter you select, CoinWeek will give to an Additional Giveaway Entry automatically, EVERY WEEK you remain a subscriber. No need to re-subscribe unless you wish to change or add new newsletters

Note:  Newsletters are sent every two weeks unless there is a special reason to send a special announcement or breaking news event specific to the newsletter topic.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW……
Read ALL the Rules, Terms and Conditions of the Giveaway Here.

If you have signup for extra enties, made comments, read articles and joined Newsletters, Why does the main entry form just show One Entry?    Here is the answer !….. Extra Entries – How are they recorded ?

To see a list of the Names and states of most of the Past Winners of the CoinWeek Givaway , along with the coins and paper money that has have given away. For over 11 years CoinWeek has held the free coin giveaway weekly, bring new classic and interesting Ancient, World and US Coins and currency to our readers. Click Here to view the list

NOTE: DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY WINNER NOTICE FROM FACEBOOK MESSENGER, or anyone asking you to call them or click on a link they send you.   

ALL COINWEEK GIVEAWAY WINNERS are ONLY contacted with the email you used to enter the Giveaway

If you are contacted by anyone Pretending to be CoinWeek, or Asking for Payments or Friend Requests  please email us at security@CoinWeek.com and send us a copy of any communications you have received.