Twenty Francs, Gold, Coin Type from Switzerland (showing photos)

Twenty Francs, Gold, Coin Type from Switzerland (issued 1897 - 1949)

Coin Type	Twenty Francs, Gold

The Twenty Francs coin is a denomination of the Swiss Franc. Given that Switzerland has four official languages, the Franc has three different names: Franken in German, franc in French and Romansh, and franco in Italian. The denomination is thus shown with a language-neutral abbreviation on the reverse: 20 FR.

Initially when federal Swiss coinage was introduced in 1850, all "francs" (from five francs down to a half franc) were full-bodied silver, while the centimes were either billon (low-grade silver) or base metal. In 1883, the first 20 francs gold coin was introduced, with a design like the 5 francs coin at the time (but with a slightly different shield on the reverse, and a different female personification on the obverse). It contained 6.45 g gold at 90% purity, conforming with the standard of the Latin Monetary Union. In 1895, the Federal Council decided that the coin should be made with a novel design. A depiction of Helvetia by Neuchâtel artist Fritz Ulysse Landry (1842 - 1927) was selected, which shows a female head with tresses in profile, with a garland of edelweiss and an alpine panorama in the background. The design was widely popular and given the endearing nickname of Vreneli.

A 10 francs version of the Vreneli was also produced from 1911 to 1922. The first series of banknotes, issued 1907, included no 10 or 20 francs denomination. The gold coins existed in circulation alongside the corresponding banknotes during 1911 - 1936. With the devaluation of 1936, the intrinsic value of the gold coins rose above their face value; however, they have never been formally demonetised, even though they were effectively withdrawn from circulation after 27 September 1936.

Obverse

On coins issued 1883 - 1896: within a beaded border, the obverse design of the coin shows a depiction of Libertas - the female personification of Liberty - by Albert Walch. Libertas is seen in profile, facing left, with a garland of edelweiss flowers in her hair, wearing a diadem with the text LIBERTAS (Latin for Liberty) on it.

Around left and right, the legend CONFŒDERATIO HELVETICA (translated from Latin: Confederation of Switzerland).

On coins issued 1897 - 1949: within a beaded border, the obverse design of the coin shows a depiction of Helvetia - the female personification of Switzerland - by Fritz Ulysse Landry. Helvetia is seen in profile, facing left, her hair braided, with a garland of edelweiss flowers around her shoulders. There is an alpine panorama of high mountains (the Alps) in the background. The design is widely known by its nickname of Vreneli.

The artist's name F. LANDRY is incuse around right, on Helvetia's sholder.

Around above, the inscription HELVETIA (the Latin name of Switzerland).

Obverse Inscription	HELVETIA

Reverse

On coins issued 1883 - 1896: The reverse design by Christian Bühler features, within a beaded border, the Coat of Arms of Switzerland being a Swiss Cross on a plain shield, with thin vertical lines in the background as a "heraldic colour" (tincture) signifying red. The shield is within a wreath of oak leaves and laurels; above the shield, a star. The value 20 is to the left of the shield, and the denomination - abbreviated to FR - is to the right. Below that, the date: [year].

On coins issued 1897 - 1949: the reverse design by Fritz Ulysse Landry features 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. In the background behind the shield, an oak branch tied with a ribbon above the shield. The value 20 is to the left of the shield, and the denomination - abbreviated to FR - is to the right.

Under the shield, the date of issue: [year]. To the right of the date, the mint mark B of the Federal Mint of Switzerland (ex Bern Mint, now known as Swissmint).

Reverse Inscription	20 FR [year]

Edge		Edge Inscription	None

Coin Type: Twenty Francs, Gold - (44) Coins

Coin Name	Reverse	Obverse	Details
Twenty Francs 1871 Pattern by Voigt			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 200
Twenty Francs 1871 Pattern by Durussel			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 30
Twenty Francs 1873 Pattern			Material: 0.900 Gold Mints: - Brussels Mint: 1,000 - Bern Mint: 80 Total Mintage: 1,080
Twenty Francs 1883			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 250,000
Twenty Francs 1886			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 250,000
Twenty Francs 1887			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 176
Twenty Francs 1888			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 4,224
Twenty Francs 1889			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 100,000
Twenty Francs 1890			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 125,000
Twenty Francs 1891			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 100,000
Twenty Francs 1892			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 100,000
Twenty Francs 1893			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 100,025
Twenty Francs 1894			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 120,600
Twenty Francs 1895			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 200,019
Twenty Francs 1896			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 400,000
Twenty Francs 1897			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 400,029
Twenty Francs 1898			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 400,000
Twenty Francs 1899			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 300,000
Twenty Francs 1900			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 400,000
Twenty Francs 1901			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 500,000
Twenty Francs 1902			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 600,000
Twenty Francs 1903			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 200,000
Twenty Francs 1904			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 100,000
Twenty Francs 1905			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 100,000
Twenty Francs 1906			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 100,000
Twenty Francs 1907			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 150,000
Twenty Francs 1908			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 355,000
Twenty Francs 1909			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 400,000
Twenty Francs 1910			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 375,000
Twenty Francs 1911			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 350,000
Twenty Francs 1912			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 450,000
Twenty Francs 1913			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 700,000
Twenty Francs 1914			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 700,000
Twenty Francs 1915			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 750,000
Twenty Francs 1916			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 300,000
Twenty Francs 1922			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 2,783,678
Twenty Francs 1925			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 400,000
Twenty Francs 1926			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 50,000
Twenty Francs 1927			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 5,015,000
Twenty Francs 1930			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 3,371,764
Twenty Francs 1935			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 175,000
Twenty Francs 1935 L-B			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 20,008,813
Twenty Francs 1947			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 9,200,000
Twenty Francs 1949			Material: 0.900 Gold Mint: Bern Mint Mintage: 10,000,000

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Twenty Francs, Gold: Details

Country	Switzerland
Currency	Swiss Franc
Sub-types	Twenty Francs, Gold (Libertas) Twenty Francs, Gold (Vreneli)
From	1897
To	1949
Face Value	20 (x Franc)
Current	No; withdrawn 1936
Material	0.900 Gold
Designer	Christian Bühler, Albert Walch, Fritz Ulysse Landry
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	21.0000 mm
Mass	6.4516 g

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Twenty Francs, Gold, Coin Type from Switzerland - detailed information