Just about all of Swiss 5, 10, and 20 rappen coins are minted in copper nickel. The one in our picture is special ~~ it is minted in brass. Copper nickel coins are lighter in color, but the pattern is the same. Some coins were also minted in aluminum brass, which takes on a golden color.

These long-running series have a few special dates, but most are worth less than $1 US dollar in average circulated condition. Here is a run-down on these three coin series. Values shown are for coins in well preserved condition, like our picture. If your coin is not a nice as the picture, it will be worth substantially less. If your coin is fully, absoluately uncirculated, then it will be worth about twice these values:

5 RAPPEN
after 1960: less than $1 US dollar
1906 to 1959: $5 catalog value
1879 to 1905: $15 catalog value
coins dated 1887: $150
coins dated 1889: $150
coins dated 1918 in brass: $40

10 RAPPEN
after 1944: less than $1 US dollar
1906 to 1943: $3 catalog value
1879 to 1905: $12 catalog value
coins dated 1879: $35
coins dated 1896: very rare, value not known
coins dated 1897: $35
coins dated 1898: $35
coins dated 1899: $35
coins dated 1915: $15
coins dated 1918 in brass: $50
coins dated 1919 in brass: $100

20 RAPPEN
after 1928: less than $1 US dollar
1900 to 1927: $10 catalog value
1881 to 1899: $12 catalog value
coins dated 1887: $35
coins dated 1927: $15

You don't see fully uncirculated coins very much. They are, by definition, in someone's coin collection. Otherwise they would be circulated. Also, you must use our Important Terminology page to undertsand what the 'catalog values' quote above mean.

About 'Helvetica' from Wikipedia: The area occupied by the Helvetii, the namesakes of the later Confoederatio Helvetica, first became part of Rome's Gallia Belgica province and then of its Germania Superior province, while the eastern portion of modern Switzerland was integrated into the Roman province of Raetia.