SINCONA: MOORE SWISS SHOOTING MEDALS

Basel. 1844 silver medal commemorating the Swiss National Shooting Festival in Basel. Richter 87b. About Mint State. Estimate: CHF 150. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2037.

The shield is shattered / the sword broken in two / the banner lies in a dying hand. / Triumph! / The fatherland remains free / God bless the fatherland. This is the translation of the verses that adorn the reverse of a medal created by Antoine Bovy to mark the major federal shooting festival in Basel on 16 August 1844. The image on the obverse visualizes the legend: We can see a youthful hero lying on the ground. The broken shield slips from the dying man's hand. With what little strength he has left, he raises the banner bearing the Swiss cross.

This scene evokes the sacrificial deaths of Swiss soldiers at the Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs on 26 August 1444, a date also inscribed on the medal. Older Swiss citizens will immediately be reminded of the patriotic texts of their childhood. They remember being completely engrossed in the story as they read about how 1,500 peaceful Basel citizens took up arms to stop Charles VII's 20,000 Armagnacs, thereby saving Switzerland from being conquered.

Or something like that. For neither the depiction on the medal nor the patriotic narrative has anything to do with reality. Reality was much more lackluster. The people of Zurich wanted to expand their territory at the expense of their neighbors. But the neighbors resisted, so Zurich called on the Habsburgs for help. And the Habsburgs, in return, turned to...

But that is a different story, which we will save for another occasion. Instead, we will examine why Swiss marksmanship experienced such a boom in the 19th century, what role shooting festivals played in the context of new nationalism, and how, following French rule, patriotic themes and mottos were used to forge what we know today as the Swiss nation.

Shooting festival in the 16th century. Marksmen fire from small wooden huts at a target that is not visible in the picture. Detail of a 16th-century Swiss wappenscheibe, a type of stained-glass window depicting a coat of arms. Gotisches Haus / Wörlitz. Photo: KW.

A Militant Land and a Long-Standing Tradition

But let us go right back to the beginning: Switzerland is not yet a nation but rather a conglomerate of diverse organizations, such as cities and the surrounding countryside they control, federations of farmers, monasteries, and local nobility. They all meet at the Diet to discuss their affairs, but they do not act in unison; instead, they mostly act independently. We are at the dawn of the early modern period, sometime around the 15th or 16th century. Switzerland was then an agrarian country where too many sons were born who could not earn a living there.

At the time, Switzerland's top export was not chocolate, but battle-hardened mercenaries. Swiss mercenaries fought for anyone who could pay them. They fought for the Pope, the French king, for Italian cities and occasionally for their own government. Bern, for example, expanded its sphere of influence so much that it encroached upon the territory of the Duke of Burgundy, who was supposedly the most powerful man in Europe at that time. The Swiss sum up what happened next in a rather blunt way: "Charles the Bold lost his estate at Grandson, his courage at Murten, and his life at Nancy."

So please forget about all the myths you may have read about Switzerland's peasant freedom fighters. The people of Zurich, Bern, Geneva and Grisons were well aware of their military strength. Accordingly, the younger generation was trained – as was the case in other Central European cities. Part of this training involved the shooting societies. This is where citizens learned to shoot. After all, in those days, citizens were not only obliged to pay taxes, they were also expected to defend their own city at arms. Many shooting clubs in Switzerland take pride in being able to trace their history back to this era. One such example is the shooting society of the city of Zurich, first mentioned on 16 August 1474 when it was invited by the shooting guild of Lucerne to participate in a shooting competition.

The Lion Monument in Lucerne commemorates the sacrifice of many Swiss Guards who remained loyal to King Louis XVI. The monument was inaugurated in 1821. Photo: KW.

The French Revolution, Napoleon and a Military Disaster

Even today, the Swiss are extremely proud of the unwavering loyalty of the Swiss Guards who defended their sovereign, King Louis XVI, on 10 August 1792. The exact number of those who died heroically is a matter of dispute. However, this does nothing to diminish their loyalty.

However, malicious tongues might claim that their sacrifice is celebrated so fervently in Switzerland because the rest of Switzerland failed to resist the French invasion of 1798. One canton after another capitulated. Proud Bern, for example, had to endure the humiliation of watching the French carry off their heraldic animals as well as the state treasury. There was no major uprising for freedom in Switzerland. Instead, Switzerland soldiers perished for Napoleon in the vast expanses of Russia.

Switzerland also played no significant role in the new beginning that followed the Congress of Vienna. Thus, after 1815, the country was humiliated and torn apart, divided by religious denominations and differing political views. It was the concept of a unified nation that glossed over linguistic, regional and religious differences.

1892 silver medal commemorating the 100th anniversary of the insurrection of 10 August 1792. It depicts the Lion Monument of Lucerne. About Uncirculated. From SINCONA auction 103 (18-19 May 2026), No. 1443.

The Lion Monument in Lucerne, which was funded by public subscription, became part of this new concept. In 1818, an appeal for donations was issued to "all who loved their country". Ultimately, the monument was not financed by the nationalists but by representatives of the Ancien Régime, including the Tsar of Russia, the King of Prussia and, of course, the French royal family.

Receipt for sponsored money financing the award given to the best marksmen in the main target competition. Swiss Shooting Museum, Bern. Photo: KW.

Swiss Marksmanship

In 1824, less than three years later, the first Swiss National Shooting Festival, the Eidgenössisches Schützenfest, took place in Aarau at the initiative of Aargau shooting master Karl Ludwig Schmid-Guiot. This event built upon the tradition of regional shooting festivals, where marksmen from various clubs had long tested their skills. The festival was modest in scale, and medals were not yet produced. However, it set the course, as Schmid-Guiot proposed the establishment of a Swiss Rifle Association to act as an umbrella organization for all local clubs in Switzerland.

This was formally established in 1827 at the next Swiss National Shooting Festival in Basel. The purpose of the association was formulated as follows: "To forge a closer bond between the hearts of the Swiss, to strengthen the power of the fatherland through harmony and closer ties, and to contribute, each according to their means, to the promotion and perfection of the fine art of marksmanship, which is of the utmost importance to the defense of the Confederation. This will be the purpose of the Swiss Rifle Association."

Silver medal for the 1830 Swiss National Shooting Festival in Bern. Richter 180a. Extremely rare. About Mint State. Estimate: CHF 1,000. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2072.

United in Defending the Fatherland

Many inscriptions and depictions on shooting medals reflect these noble ideals. United in defending the fatherland – this intention was to foster a sense of national identity and help forget the humiliation of defeat against France.

An early example of this mindset is a silver medal minted for the 1830 Swiss National Shooting Festival in Bern. It urges the viewer: Be always ready (= IMMER BEREIT). Its reverse calls for all to strive towards one goal (= ALLE NACH EINEM ZIELE). These mottos are illustrated by the design: rifles arranged to a pyramid, with the Swiss flag at the apex. After all, marksmen proudly claim that they were the first to place the Swiss cross on the common flag, thereby turning it into a national symbol.

The medal also features another symbol of unity. Between the rifles, you will see what the Romans called fasces. At its core, this is a bundle of rods, a motif that often appears on shooting medals. The rods, bound together into a bundle, serve as a reminder that what is fragile on its own can withstand any force when united.

Silver medal for the 1879 Swiss National Shooting Festival in Basel. Richter 104a. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 500. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), 2043.

The following quote, which we associate above all with Alexandre Dumas's novel The Three Musketeers, fits perfectly in this context: all for one and one for all. In fact, this saying is much older. Literary history credits William Shakespeare with coining it.

Switzerland adopted the motto in 1868 when heavy rainfall devastated much of the country. Lago Maggiore rose to its highest level on record. 51 people lost their lives and 18,000 lots their possessions. The Swiss Federal Council's appeal for donations was publicized by the Swiss press under this well-known motto. It has since become widely recognized and can even be seen inscribed on the dome of the Federal Palace in Bern.

Among marksmen, it is said that this phrase had already been used in speeches since 1836 – before Dumas! – during the handover of the flag from the outgoing president to their successor. However, the medal bearing the motto in French was not minted until much later – after 1868 – and namely in 1879. The motto is accompanied by a proud Helvetia, carrying her laurel-wreathed flag and the Swiss coat of arms, ahead of two marksmen. Behind them, the brightly shining sun indicates a bright future.

1890 gold medal for the cantonal shooting festival of Solothurn. Richter 1121. Unique. About Uncirculated. Estimate: CHF 7,500. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2360.

"One for all" alludes to an individual's willingness to sacrifice themselves, as illustrated by our first example of a shooting medal. The same spirit of sacrifice is celebrated by a gold medal, of which only one specimen was produced, depicting the Solothurn politician Niklaus von Wengi at a pivotal moment in his life.

The devout Catholic was elected head of the municipality of Solothurn in 1533. A Reformed minority attempted to overthrow him, triggering a civil war. The Reformed entrenched themselves in the suburbs to await assistance from Reformed Bern. Inside the city walls, the Catholics retrieved the cannons from the armory. Their plan was to annihilate the Reformed before the Bernese could intervene. The first cannon shot was fired.

In this situation, Niklaus von Wengi positioned himself in front of the muzzle of the second cannon. He wanted to be the first to die if a civil war broke out. It did not come to that. Negotiations were initiated and the Reformed saw that someone who does not wish to wage war is still capable of defending their position consistently in negotiations. Solothurn remains Catholic to this day.

This story was of particular significance in 19th-century Switzerland because the Confederation was still engaged in a religious war as late as 1847. In this war the Reformed, usually liberal cantons fought against the conservative, mostly Catholic cantons. The Federal Constitution of 1848 resulted from the victory of the liberal forces.

Gold medal for the 1893 cantonal shooting festival in Zurich. Richter 1754a. Only 75 specimens struck. About Mint State. Estimate: CHF 3,500. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2545.

Let us turn to the classic motif found on shooting medals: William Tell, who is depicted on this 1893 Zurich medal in the form of the famous Tell monument in Altdorf. 1893? Anyone who looks up the Tell monument on Wikipedia will be surprised to discover that the monument was not erected in Altdorf's Town Hall Square until 28 August 1895. How, then, could it have been depicted on a Zurich medal from 1893?

The sculptor Richard Kissling works on the Tell monument for Altdorf in his Zurich workshop. Photograph of 1892. Schweizer Illustrierte Zeitschrift 8 (1904), p. 301. cc-by-sa 4.0.

The answer to the riddle is both a competition and an artist who had his workshop in Zurich. In 1892, Richard Kissling clearly won the competition for the Tell monument, in which 30 artists from Switzerland and abroad took part. Richard Kissling created the design in his workshop, and Hugues Bovy – the creator of this medal – used Kissling's design as a model, as can be read in the left field on the medal's reverse.

Silver medal for the 1867 Swiss National Shooting Festival in Schwyz. Richter 1073a. Extremely rare. About Mint State. Estimate: CHF 1,000. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2346.

We could go on like this forever. The oath of the three Confederates depicted on this medal, which was struck to mark the 1867 Swiss National Shooting Festival in Schwyz, also fits perfectly into this context, as does the inscription DURCH EINTRACHT STARK (strong through unity). However, let us move on to another topic. After all, the medal shows us in detail what the festival grounds at a Swiss National Shooting Festival looked like in the second half of the 19th century.

Shooting Festivals

In the center we can see the pavilion where prizes, trophies and honorary gifts for the winning marksmen were displayed. Above it flies the flag bearing the Swiss cross, as well as the flags of the shooting clubs and associations taking part in the festival. To the right of the pavilion is the marquee where official events took place and refreshments were served during the competition. To the left of this are the grandstand and part of the long gallery where the marksmen stood to shoot at the targets.

Grounds of the Swiss National Shooting Festival, held in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1863.

We are familiar with many illustrations of the various festival grounds, which depict precisely these elements. One example is a contemporary engraving of the festival grounds for the 1863 Swiss National Shooting Festival in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Again, the pavilion for the honorary gifts is at the center of the foreground and is decorated with the flags of the participating clubs. To the right of this is the large marquee. The shooting ranges frame the festival grounds on the left.

1898 gold medal for the Swiss National Shooting Festival in Neuchâtel. Richter 970a. Only 19 specimens struck! In original case. About Mint State. Estimate: CHF 6,000. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2310.

This gold medal, of which only 19 specimens were made, provides a glimpse into what life was like at these shooting ranges. It was produced to commemorate the 1898 Swiss Federal Shooting Festival held in Neuchâtel. It depicts citizens and soldiers standing side by side in harmony as they load, aim and fire their rifles, and celebrate a successful shot. The Neuchâtel artist Fritz Landry, creator of the "Vreneli", designed the medal.

The different outfits worn by the civilians are noteworthy: they wear long flared skirts, civilian attire, or a kind of long cloak. In this way, Landry reflects the diversity of participants at such an event. Since it was decided in 1859 that foreign marksmen could also take part in Swiss National Shooting Festivals, national shooting clubs from friendly nations flocked to these events. The 1863 Swiss Shooting Festival in La Chaux-de-Fonds, for example, whose festival grounds we have seen, attracted participants from Germany, France, Belgium, England, Italy and the USA.

Gold victory medal of the 1890 Swiss National Shooting Competition in Frauenfeld, funded by the Italian government. Richter 1251a. Unique with original loop attached. About Uncirculated. Estimate: CHF 10,000. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2396.

The significance of these shooting festivals is demonstrated by this prize, which was not funded by a local figure or institution but by the Italian government for the 1890 Swiss National Shooting Festival in Frauenfeld. The unique piece leaves no doubt as to who sent this valuable item. The translation of the Italian legend on the reverse reads, "From the Italians to the Swiss marksmen". The obverse depicts an eagle with outstretched wings. The cross on its chest does not represent Switzerland but the House of Savoy. The crown and plaque held in the eagle's talons also refer to the Italian kings. In Latin, it reads, "For the Fatherland and the King". A remarkable motto for the winner of a Swiss shooting festival.

Gold medal for the 1895 Swiss National Shooting Festival in Winterthur. Richter 1756a. Only 44 specimens struck. In original box. About Mint State. Estimate: CHF 6,500. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2546.

This brings us to the prizes that are still awarded to shooting champions at the Swiss National Shooting Festival today. A gold medal, of which only 44 specimens were minted for the 1895 Swiss National Shooting Festival in Winterthur, depicts several wreaths at the feet of the city's patron deity. Such wreaths were the most common award given to winners. Anyone who achieved a certain score received a wreath, often along with a wearable wreath badge.

A marksman's trophy is depicted centrally on this medal. Cups and trophies have been traditional gifts or rewards since the early modern period. At that time, they were not decorative items for the parlor; they were made of pure silver and thus represented hard cash. Many people and clubs kept their savings in the form of silver tableware.

Honorary gift for the 1896 cantonal shooting festival of Baden. Funded by the government of the canton of Aargau. Unique. Estimate: CHF 13,000. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2008.

Cash prizes only replaced material prizes in the 19th century, as illustrated by two honorary gifts offered by SINCONA as part of the Moore Collection.

Neither of these gifts originates from a Swiss National Shooting Competition, but rather from one of the many cantonal shooting festivals, which took place much more frequently than the major national gatherings.

For the 1896 cantonal shooting festival in Baden, the government of the Canton of Aargau donated 500 francs. This was a considerable sum. The loving care with which the 20-franc coins were presented in an elaborately crafted casket in the pavilion is also noteworthy.

Honorary gift for the 1902 cantonal shooting festival of Geneva. Unique. Estimate: CHF 5,000. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2217.

The same applies to an honorary gift that may have been funded by one or more residents of Geneva for the 1902 cantonal shooting festival. The coins presented in it were worth the sum of 215 francs. Notably, these are exclusively French coins, which were certainly easier to obtain in Geneva, a border city within the Latin Monetary Union, than Swiss coins.

Honorary gifts are extremely rare, as most shooting champions preferred to spend the money they had won, regardless of how attractive the presentation might have been. Only a shooting champion from a wealthy family, whose fortune had been preserved for many generations, could afford to keep these mostly common coins in their casket.

Gold medal for the first federal shooting competition of the Swiss rifle shooting club in New Jersey in 1897. Extremely rare. About Uncirculated. Estimate: CHF 3,000. From SINCONA Auction 104 (19 May 2026), No. 2654.

Swiss Shooting Societies Abroad

Finally, let us take a look at North America, where Swiss shooting traditions also flourished. And not just there. In the second half of the 19th century, Switzerland was an emigration country, with many people leaving to build new lives elsewhere. Naturally, they took their customs and traditions with them. Wherever enough Swiss people settled, a Swiss shooting club was formed to uphold traditional customs.

Our last example recalls the first shooting competition of the Swiss rifle shooting club of veteran shooters of North America, which took place in New Jersey in 1897.

The medal depicts, in a rather simple style, a variety of figures above the combined coats of arms of Switzerland and the United States, each of which has a symbolic meaning: In the center is the Tell monument in Altdorf, with Helvetia bearing the Swiss cross on her chest to its left. She rests her left hand on bundle of rods. On the right is a depiction of the personification of the United States balancing the Liberty Cap on a staff.

This final medal in particular demonstrates that the ideals conveyed by Swiss shooting medals are recognized worldwide. The concept of armed peacefulness, which embodies the motto "all for one and one for all", is one that can still inspire us today.

At a time when we are once again learning that we must prepare for war to preserve peace, shooting medals are an attractive and interesting area for collectors. And the best part? While there are some extremely rare medals in the four- and five-figure range, most shooting medals are still very affordable.

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