The first Swiss-wide 10 rappen-coins, issued in 1850, bore a shield with oak leaves and on the reverse the indication of value. They were minted in billon, an alloy of silver, copper, zinc and nickel.
At that time, the mint of Berne did not yet have the capacity to produce all Swiss coins itself. The billon coins were produced in Strasbourg, for which stands mint mark BB on the reverse.