The piece of 5 rappens was minted in 1850 for the first time – then, however, from an alloy of 95 percent copper and 5 percent silver (billon), and with a Swiss cross on the obverse. In 1879, the alloy was changed to copper-nickel, and the current motif was introduced. The coin depicts Libertas, the personification of freedom, and not Helvetia, as is often believed.