1897 Sissach

Actual 45 mm size by Franz Homberg, Bern

Obverse.

Upon the battlefield, there kneels the armored halberdier, his valiant form brought low by a cruel crossbow bolt that has pierced his right lower leg, a testament to the mercilessness of war. At his waist, the heavy axe of a carpenter dangles, a humble tool now entwined with the gravities of combat. Yet still he rises, lifting high his half-Arte axe, a proud symbol of defiance against the overwhelming odds that besiege him.

His wizened visage, adorned with a tangled beard and etched with the lines of countless battles, bears a countenance that speaks of desperation and anguish. Nevertheless, with unwavering resolve, he grips his faithful weapon firmly with both hands, his determination burning brightly in the face of despair. The leathern armor of his tunic, marked with the revered emblem of the Swiss Cross, proclaims his allegiance and steadfastness; he shall embrace his fate, whatever it may hold.

Around him lies the devastation wrought by the artillery bombardments of his foes, a grim panorama of ruin that tells tales of valor turned to ash. The shattered remnants of the once-noble St. Jakob hospital lay scattered about, its tranquil garden now a graveyard of lost hopes where he and his kinsmen had resolved to make their last stand. The very soil is stained with the sorrow of fallen brothers, each blade of grass a witness to their sacrifice.

In the distance, the towering spires of the Basel Minster rise majestically against the sky, their twin forms serving as venerable sentinels of the canton city of Basel. These hallowed structures, with their intricate carvings and proud arches, have borne silent witness to the passage of time and the trials of men, standing resolute amidst the chaos, a beacon of faith and endurance in a world so oft consumed by strife.

Thus, the halberdier kneels, an embodiment of resilience, a figure poised between life and death, awaiting the next chapter of his storied existence, all the while embodying the spirit of defiance that has long characterized the noble heart of Switzerland.

Inscriptions.

UNSRE SEELEN GOTT, UNSRE LEIBER DEN FEINDEN

• OUR SOULS TO GOD, OUR BODIES TO THE ENEMIES

Reverse.

Majestically upon the hill, there stands Schloss Fansburg, a resplendent edifice that hath withstood the test of time, its full glory radiating forth like a beacon upon the landscape. Built in the year of our Lord 1330 by the noble Lords of Thierstein, this castle later came into the possession of the illustrious Habsburg barons of Falkenstein. These barons, proud and ambitious, would soon find themselves embroiled in a fierce struggle against the valiant Swiss, leading to a siege of the castle in the fateful year of 1444.

The walls of Schloss Fansburg, thick with history and echoing with the clangor of swords, tell tales of valor and strife, of noble blood spilled upon the battlements and the solemn oaths sworn in the heat of battle. Each stone of this storied stronghold stands as a witness to the tumultuous events that have shaped the annals of its past, where the banners of fealty once fluttered in the winds of conflict.

Adorning the castle’s proud facade, one may behold the united couplet blazons of the Cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, each emblem a testament to the rich heritage and fervent spirit of these lands. The coat of arms of Basel-Stadt, with its distinctive motifs, reflects the vitality and strength of the urban heart, while the emblem of Basel-Landschaft encapsulates the verdant expanses and pastoral beauty of the countryside.

Together, these heraldic symbols intertwine in harmonious union, celebrating the solidarity and shared history of these cantons. As the sun casts its golden rays upon Schloss Fansburg, illuminating its noble presence, one cannot help but feel the weight of history, the intertwining fates of lords and commoners alike, echoing through the ages in a resounding chorus of resilience and pride. Thus, the castle stands, not merely as a relic of the past, but as a vibrant monument to the enduring spirit of the people it has sheltered through the centuries.

Background.

The Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs was fought between the Old Swiss Confederacy and the French (mostly Armagnac) mercenaries, on the banks of the river Birs. The battle took place on 26 August 1444. The site of the battle was near Münchenstein, Switzerland.

In 1443, seven cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy invaded Zürich and besieged the city. Zürich had made an alliance with Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, who appealed to Charles VII of France to send an army to relieve the siege. Charles sent his son the Dauphin (later Louis XI of France) with an army of about 30,000, mostly Armagnacs, to relieve Zürich. As the French forces entered Swiss territory at Basel, the Swiss commanders stated at Farnsburg decided to send an advance troop of 1,300, mostly young pikemen. These moved to Liestal on the night of 25 August, where a local force of 200 joined them.

In the early morning, they managed to surprise and rout French vanguard troops at Pratteln and Muttenz. Enthused by this success, and in spite of strict orders to the contrary, the Swiss crossed the Birs to meet the bulk of the French army of some 30,000 men, which was ready for battle. Immediately the Swiss forces formed three pike squares of five hundred men each, and they fought well when Armagnac cavalry charged again and again and were repulsed.

The fighting lasted for several hours and was of an intensity evoking awed commentary from witnesses. Describing the battle in vivid details, of how the Swiss ripped bloody crossbow bolts from their bodies, and charged the enemy even after they had been pierced by spears or had lost their hands, and charging the Armagnacs to avenge their deaths. Eventually, the Swiss pike squares weakened. The commander ordered a retreat into the small hospital of St. Jakob. A small Basel reinforcement was repulsed, and its leader, Henman Sevogel, was killed.

The French set their artillery to bombarding the hospital, inflicting heavy casualties. But the Swiss, as the offensive party, categorically refused to surrender and as the Armagnacs moved into the hospital, the remaining Swiss were pressed into the hospital's garden and killed to the last man within half an hour.

Even though the battle itself was a devastating defeat for the Swiss, and a major blow to Bern, the canton who contributed the majority of the force, it was nevertheless a Swiss success in strategic terms. In view of the heavy casualties on the French side, the original plan of moving towards Zürich, where a Swiss force of 30,000 was ready, was now judged unfavorably by the Dauphin and the French turned back, contributing to the eventual Swiss victory in the Old Zürich War. The actions of the Swiss were praised as heroic by contemporary observers and reports of the event quickly spread throughout Europe.

The Dauphin formally made peace with the Swiss Confederacy and with Basel in a treaty signed at Ensisheim on 28 October, and withdrew his troops from the Alsace in 1445. The intervention of the Church Council being held in the city of Basel was crucial in instigating this peace: the Swiss Confederates were allies of the city of Basel, and so the Dauphin's war could also be construed as an aggressive act against the Council housed within its walls. Charles VII of France had implemented the reformist decrees of the Council of Basel in 1438, so it was important for the Dauphin not to appear to be threatening its members.

In recognition of the valiant sacrifics made by the young Swiss pikemen at the Battle of St Jakob de Bir, honoring their courage and determination refusing to surrender against such overwhelming odds and fighting to their very ends.