Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel, Coin Type from Switzerland - detailed information

Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel, Coin Type from Switzerland (issued 1881 - 1938)
Coin TypeTwenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel

The Twenty Centimes coin is a small circulating denomination of the Swiss Franc. Given that Switzerland has four official languages, the sub-unit of the Franc has four different names; it is centime (c.) in French, Rappen (Rp.) in German, centesimo (ct.) in Italian and rap (rp.) in Romansh. Some English-language catalogues call the coin a 20 Rappen coin, but the English-language publications of the Swiss National Bank and Swissmint prefer the term 20 centimes.

The first version of the 20 centimes / rappen coin was designed by Carl Friedrich Voigt of the Munich Mint (then Royal Bavarian Mint). On the obverse it featured the Swiss Coat of Arms (a rendering quite different from that on the One Centime and Two Centimes denominations released at the same time but designed by Alexander Hutter), on two flower (Alpine rose) branches. The reverse shows the value (only a numeral, no text) within a flower wreath. This original reverse has remained unchanged and is still used on current coins. This version was lighter (3.25 grams) and made of billon (an alloy with a very low quantity of silver), the composition of which varied through the years.

The first version was issued only until 1859 and was demonetised on 30th June 1886.

In 1881, the obverse was changed to a design by Karl Schwenzer featuring the effigy of Libertas. The metal was changed to pure nickel and the coin became heavier (4 grams). The nickel version was issued until 1938 and circulated until it was finally demonetised on 1st January 2004. Current 20 centime coins are made of cupro-nickel; this version was first issued in 1939 and is still currently produced.

Obverse
Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel - obverse photo

The obverse features an effigy of Libertas, the Roman goddess and embodiment of Liberty. It depicts a female head looking right, with a ribbon in her hair, wearing a diadem with the text LIBERTAS on it. Around, the legend · CONFŒDERATIO HELVETICA · (translated from Latin: Swiss Federation), separated from the date [year] below by quatrefoils (flower shape with four leaves) for dots.

Obverse Inscription · CONFŒDERATIO HELVETICA · [year]
Reverse
Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel - reverse photo

The reverse shows the value 20 (only a numeral, no text) within a wreath of flowers (Alpine roses). This original reverse has remained unchanged since 1850 to present.

The mint mark B of Swissmint (earlier known as the Bern Mint or the Federal Mint of Switzerland) is under the ribbon tying the wreath.

Reverse Inscription 20
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
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Coin Type: Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel - (38) Coins
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1881 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1881 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1881 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1883 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1883 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1883 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1884 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1884 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1884 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 4,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1885 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1885 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1885 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 3,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1887 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1887 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1887 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1891 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1891 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1891 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1893 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1893 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1893 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1894 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1894 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1894 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1896 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1896 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1896 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1897 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1897 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1897 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1898 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1898 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1898 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1899 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1899 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1899 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1900 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1900 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1900 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1901 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1901 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1901 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1902 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1902 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1902 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1903 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1903 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1903 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1906 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1906 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1906 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1907 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1907 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1907 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1908 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1908 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1908 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1909 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1909 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1909 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1911 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1911 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1911 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1912 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1912 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1912 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1913 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1913 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1913 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1919 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1919 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1919 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1920 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1920 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1920 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 3,100,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1921 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1921 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1921 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1924 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1924 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1924 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,100,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1925 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1925 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1925 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1926 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1926 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1926 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1927 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1927 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1927 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1929 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1929 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1929 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1930 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1930 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1930 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1931 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1931 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1931 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,250,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1932 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1932 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1932 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1933 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1933 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1933 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,500,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1934 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1934 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1934 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1936 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1936 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1936 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1938 Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1938 - reverse photo Switzerland / Twenty Centimes (Rappen) 1938 - obverse photo Material: Nickel
Mint: Swissmint
Mintage: 2,805,000
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Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel: Details
CountrySwitzerland
CurrencySwiss Franc
Sub-type ofTwenty Centimes (Rappen)
From1881
To1938
Face Value20 (x Centime)
CurrentNo (demonetised 2004)
MaterialNickel
DesignerCarl Friedrich Voigt, Karl Schwenzer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size21.0500 mm
Thickness1.6500 mm
Mass4.0000 g
Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel: Photos
ImageDetails
Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel: Photo Coin, Switzerland, 20 Rappen 1929 Coin, Switzerland, 20 Rappen 1929
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
Twenty Centimes (Rappen), Nickel: Photo Coin, Switzerland, 20 Rappen 1929 Coin, Switzerland, 20 Rappen 1929
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source