Five Francs, Coin Type from Switzerland - detailed information

The first version of the obverse (issued only in 1850, 1851, 1873 and 1874) features a seated figure of Helvetia, the female personification of the Confederation of Switzerland, resting on a plough whose two handles are seen to her right, and some grains; with her left hand she holds a triangular shield resting on the ground which bears the Swiss Cross inside an oval; her right arm is extended toward the left side of the obverse, pointing into the distance. The legend HELVETIA is around above her head. The engraver's name A. BOVY is in small letters to her left, written counter-clockwise (i.e. the letters face the opposite way to the legend).

The second obverse, issued between 1888 and 1916, shows a portrait of Helvetia by Karl Schwenzer. The legend reads CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA; the date is also on the obverse, separated from the legend by a quatrefoil.

The third obverse (issued from 1922 to the present) by Paul Burkhard shows a hooded male figure representing an alpine herdsman (and not William Tell as some people think). The legend CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA is around above.

The engraver's signature, P BVRKHARD INCT. (an abbreviation for the Latin text "Paul Burkhard incidit", meaning "engraved by Paul Burkhard), is below left on the figure's shoulder, incuse counter-clockwise in small letters.

The first version of the reverse (issued only in 1850, 1851, 1873 and 1874) shows the value, a numeral 5, and a language-neutral abbreviation of the denomination, Fr. within a wreath whose left part consists of oak branches and the right part of various Alpine flowers. The mint mark (A for the Paris Mint, B for the Bern Mint or B. for the Brussels Mint) is under the ribbon of the wreath.

The second version of the reverse was issued between 1888 and 1916. This design by Christian Bühler featured the Coat of Arms of Switzerland, being a Swiss Cross on a shield, with thin vertical lines in the background as a "heraldic colour" (tincture) signifying red. The shield is within a wreath, the left part of which consists of oak leaves and the right part of laurels; above the shield, a five-pointed star. The value 5 is to the left of the shield, and the denomination - abbreviated to F - is to the right. The mint mark B of the Bern Mint is under the ribbon.

The third and current reverse shows a modified Coat of Arms of Switzerland with a rounded shield and no tincture for the background colour, surrounded by flower wreaths. The value and denomination 5 FR. are above the shield; before 1924, the value was given as 5 Fr. (small "r") with thinner letters. The date is below the shield, and the mint mark is below the date.