User:RHM22/Shooting Talers

Shooting Thalers (German: Schützentaler) are commemorative coins minted for the Shooting Festival (Schützenfest) tournaments that were held in various Cantons within the Swiss Confederation.

The 19th century Confederation issues were minted to legal fineness, and were thus allowed to be denominated at five Francs. These issues are commonly considered semi-medallic, though they could circulate due to their size and weight being the same as that of the regular 5 Franc issues. Issues dating in the 20th and 21st centuries were redeemable at face value at the Shooting Festival or at participating businesses, while all issues 1855 and prior were strictly legal tender.

Entymology
The term "shooting thaler" is technically incorrect, though it is the accepted term for these issues. No coins were ever issued with the denomination of thaler in the Swiss confederation, however many silver dollar-sized coins have been given the name unofficialy.

Other Countries
Some other European coin-issuing entities have minted coins to honor or promote shooting festivals that took place within their territory, though they would not be of interest to someone who only collects Swiss shooting thalers. The most notable include the German States of Baden, Bremen and Frankfurt am Main, as well as the Swiss canton of Vaud.