Two Francs 1860, Coin from Switzerland

Two Francs 1860, Coin from Switzerland (demonetised 1878)

Coin	Two Francs 1860

The Two Francs coin is a circulating denomination of the Swiss Franc. Given that Switzerland has four official languages, its currency unit has three different names: Franken in German, franc in French and Romansh, and franco in Italian. Initially when federal Swiss coinage was introduced in 1850, all "francs" (including the half franc) were full-bodied silver, while the centimes were either billon (low-grade silver) or base metal.

This first version of the two francs coin featuring a seated figure of Helvetia was designed by Friedrich Fisch and engraved by Antoine Bovy. The reverse shows the value, a numeral 2, 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. This original reverse has remained unchanged and is still used on current coins. This version was heavier than current coins (10 grams) and made of 90% silver and 10% copper (1850, 1857) or 80% silver and 20% copper (1860 - 1863).

It was issued between 1850 and 1863 and was initially struck by the Paris Mint. It was demonetised in two stages - 1st January 1869 for coins issued 1850-1857, then 1st January 1878 for coins issued in 1860 and 1863.

In 1874, the obverse was changed to a new design by Albert Walch featuring a Standing Helvetia. This design is still used today; the silver version was issued until 1967 and was demonetised on 1st April 1971, and the current one is copper-nickel.

Coins issued in 1860 circulated for less than 18 years.

Mint	Swissmint	Mint Mark	Letter B	Total Mintage	2,001,000 (2.0 million)

Obverse

The obverse features a sitting 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 (for Antoine Bovy) is in large letters to her left, written counter-clockwise, i.e. the letters face the opposite way to the legend.

In 1857, the engraving was slightly changed by Ferdinand Korn, so coins dated 1857 and later have his signature in the exergue: KORN.

Obverse Inscription	HELVETIA

Reverse

The reverse shows in two lines the value and denomination - a numeral 2 and a language-neutral abbreviation of the denomination, Fr. above the date: 1860, all within a wreath whose left part consists of oak branches and the right part of various Alpine flowers.

Below the ribbon of the wreath is the mint mark B of Swissmint (previously known as the Bern Mint or the Federal Mint of Switzerland).

Reverse Inscription	2 Fr. 1860

Edge	Milled	Edge Inscription	None

Two Francs 1860: Known varieties

Variety	Specimen
Images
Mintage	Issued: unknown

Two Francs 1860: References to Information Used

Source	Edition	About	Link	Notes
Swissmint	2017	Mint	link
Swissmint	2017	Mintage	link

Showing 100 from a total of 110 coins of type: Two Francs

Coin Name	Mintage	Symbol	Legend
Two Francs 1850	2,500,000	Helvetia, Seated	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1857	622	Helvetia, Seated	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1860	2,001,000	Helvetia, Seated	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1862	1,000,000	Helvetia, Seated	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1863	500,000	Helvetia, Seated	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1874	1,000,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1875	982,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1878	1,500,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1879	518,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1886	1,000,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1894	700,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1896	20	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1901	50,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1903	300,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1904	200,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1905	300,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1906	400,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1907	300,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1908	200,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1909	300,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1910	250,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1911	400,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1912	400,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1913	300,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1914	1,000,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1916	250,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1920	2,300,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1921	2,000,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1922	400,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1928	750,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1931	500,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1932	250,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1936	250,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1937	250,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1939	1,455,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1940	2,503,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1941	1,192,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1943	2,089,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1944	6,276,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1945	1,134,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1946	1,629,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1947	500,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1948	920,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1953	438,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1955	1,032,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1957	2,298,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1958	650,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1959	2,905,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1960	1,980,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1961	4,653,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1963	8,030,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1964	4,558,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1965	8,526,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1967	4,132,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1968	41,588,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1969	17,296,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1970	10,350,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1972	5,003,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1973	5,996,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1974	15,009,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1975	7,061,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1976	5,011,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1977	2,010,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1978	12,812,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1979	10,995,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1980	10,011,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1981	13,862,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1982	5,922,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1983	3,034,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1984	2,043,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1985	2,034,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1986	3,032,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1987	8,028,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1988	10,029,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1989	8,031,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1990	5,045,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1991	12,036,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1992	10,028,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1993	13,050,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1994	16,023,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1995	7,024,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1996	5,023,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1997	5,022,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1998	4,021,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 1999	3,021,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2000	3,026,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2001	4,028,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2002	1,030,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2003	1,028,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2004	1,029,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2005	2,029,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2006	7,030,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2007	16,028,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2008	6,026,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2009	8,026,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2010	9,026,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2011	7,026,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2012	11,026,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2013	12,023,500	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Two Francs 2014	15,022,000	Helvetia, Standing	HELVETIA
Showing 1 to 100 of 110 Coins. Start Previous 1 2 Next End

Advertising

The Definitive Guide to Australian Silver Coins

My Collection

Please sign up and/or log in.

You will then be able to manage your collection and record whether you have or want this coin.

Two Francs 1860: Details

Country	Switzerland
Currency	Swiss Franc
Coin Type	Two Francs, Seated Helvetia
Issued	1860
Symbol	Helvetia, Seated
Face Value	2 (x Franc)
Total Mintage	2,001,000 (2.0 million)
Current	No; demonetised 1878
Material	0.900 Silver
Designer	Friedrich Fisch, Antoine Bovy
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	27.4000 mm
Thickness	2.1500 mm
Mass	10.0000 g
OCC ID	NXYD-ENZC-WQBJ-EVRB

Search Similar Coins to Buy (Affiliate Ad)

Search for Switzerland: Two Francs 1860 on eBay

Advertising

Buy Silver Bullion Online

Share or Bookmark this Page

Two Francs 1860: Photos

Image	Details
	Switzerland 1860-B 2 francs Copyright: CoinFactsWiki CC-BY Notes: Specimen. Source
	Switzerland 1860-B 2 francs Copyright: CoinFactsWiki CC-BY Notes: Specimen. Source
	Coin, Switzerland, 2 Francs, 1860 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Source
	Coin, Switzerland, 2 Francs, 1860 Copyright: NumisCorner.com Source

Two Francs 1860: Catalogue Reference IDs

Source	Reference ID
Schön, Weltmünzkatalog	Schweiz Schön# 22a
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins	Switzerland KM# 10a

Two Francs 1860, Coin from Switzerland - detailed information