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20 francs | |||
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Coin from 1897. | |||
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The 20 franc coin was first issued in Switzerland in 1883 as a general-issue coin. The production of these general-issue coins eventually ceased in 1949. In 1991, commemorative 20 franc coins were introduced, and have been minted annually since.
History[]
General-issue coins[]
Initially, the 20 franc coin was to be used by the countries affiliated with the Latin Monetary Union. In 1883, the first coins were minted using .900 fine gold. Due to its composition and diameter of 21 millimeters, the coin was rather bulky, weighing about 6.452 grams. It displayed Helvetia, the national personification of Switzerland, on the obverse with the lettering, "CONFŒDERATIO HELVETICA" around the circumference of the coin. The reverse depicted the coat of arms of Switzerland which separated the value. Above the arms was a five-pointed star and below was the year of minting. All of these depictions were surrounded by a wreath. The coin's edge was either reeded or inscribed with Latin text reading, "DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT" ("the lord will provide").
In 1897, a new version of the 20 franc coin was introduced. It retained the original composition, weight, and size of its predecessor, but it's design was altered. Depicted on the obverse was a different portrait of Helvetia with mountains in the background and "HELVETIA" inscribed above. On the reverse was a larger coat of arms and oak branches along with the value, which was divided by the depictions. These new "Vreneli" coins were used until 1949.
Commemorative coins[]
- Main article: Swiss 20 franc coin/Commemorative coins
Since 1991, Swissmint has produced commemorative .835 fine silver 20 franc coins annually. Most had a diameter of 33 millimeters and a mass of 20 grams. The only different commemorative coin was a shooting thaler from 1999, which commemorated the shooting festival in Zürich.
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General information
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Designs
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Year: 1991 Subject: 700 Years of the Swiss Confederation Designer: Ernst Hiestand Mintage: 2,540,000 |
Obverse: Swiss crosses, year, "1291" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1992 Subject: Gertrud Kurz Designer: Rosmarie Tissi Mintage: 361,000 |
Obverse: Barbed wire, "1890-1972", "Gertrud Kurz" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1993 Subject: Paracelsus Designer: Heinz Jost Mintage: 290,000 |
Obverse: Paracelsus, "1493–1541" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1994 Subject: Devil's Bridge Designer: Peter Emch Mintage: 272,000 |
Obverse: The devil Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1995 Subject: Snakequeen of the Grisons Designer: Peter Emch Mintage: 265,700 |
Obverse: Snakequeen of the Grisons Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1996 Subject: Giant Gargantua Designer: Peter Emch Mintage: 236,000 |
Obverse: Gargantua Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1996 Subject: Dragon of Breno Designer: Peter Emch Mintage: 216,700 |
Obverse: Dragon by mountain Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1997 Subject: Swiss trains Designer: Georg Staehelin Mintage: 234,000 |
Obverse: Wheel, "1847" Reverse: Wheel, value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1997 Subject: Jeremias Gotthelf Designer: Samuel Buri Mintage: 180,000 |
Obverse: Jeremias Gotthelf, "1797–1854" Reverse: Value | |
Year: 1998 Subject: 200th anniversary of the Helvetic Republic. Designer: Werner Jeker Mintage: 123,500 |
Obverse: Helvetic coin, "1798-1998" Reverse: Value, year, "Helvetia" | |
Year: 1998 Subject: 150th anniversary of the Swiss Federal Constitution Designer: Werner Jeker Mintage: 124,500 |
Obverse: Old Swiss coin, "1848–1998" Reverse: Value, year, "Helvetia" | |
Year: 1998 Subject: Conrad Ferdinand Meyer Designer: Jean Lecoultre Mintage: 122,500 |
Obverse: Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, signature, "1825–1898" Reverse: Value, year, "Helvetia" | |
Year: 1999 Subject: 150 years of the Swiss Post Designer: Claude Sandoz Mintage: 183,000 |
Obverse: Person holding a letter "1849–1999" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1999 Subject: Battle of Dornach Designer: Franz Eggenschwiler Mintage: 96,000 |
Obverse: Sword splitting an eagle, "1499–1999", "Dornach" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 1999 Subject: Shooting Festival in Zürich Designer: Mintage: 10,000 |
Obverse: Reverse: | |
Year: 2000 Subject: 2000 Years of Christianity Designer: Roman Candio Mintage: 115,000 |
Obverse: Angel floating above people, "Pax in Terra" Reverse: Olive branch, value, year, "Helvetia" | |
Year: 2000 Subject: 2000 Years of Christianity Designer: Roman Candio Mintage: 99,000 |
Obverse: Jesus preaching, "Lumen Christio" Reverse: Value, year, "Helvetia", "Et Lux in Tenebris Lucet" | |
Year: 2001 Subject: Müstair Monastery Designer: Hans-Peter von Ah Mintage: 115,000 |
Obverse: Müstair Monastery, "Claustra da Müstair" Reverse: Floor plans of the monastery, value, year, "Helvetia" | |
Year: 2001 Subject: Johanna Spyri Designer: Sylvia Goeschke Mintage: 95,000 |
Obverse: Johanna Spyri, "1827–1901" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2002 Subject: Expo.02 Designer: Hervé Graumann Mintage: 71,100 |
Obverse: Child at water's edge Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2002 Subject: Rega Designer: Raphael Schenker Mintage: 62,000 |
Obverse: Rescue helicopter, "1952-2002, REGA" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA", Swiss cross all above a propeller | |
Year: 2002 Subject: St. Gallen Monastery Designer: Hans-Peter von Ah Mintage: 56,500 |
Obverse: Monastery, "Kloster St. Gallen" Reverse: Saint Gall and bear cub, value, year, "Helvetia" | |
Year: 2003 Subject: FIS Ski Championships in St. Moritz Designer: Claude Kuhn Mintage: 62,000 |
Obverse: Skier in snowstorm Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" in snowstorm | |
Year: 2003 Subject: Bern Designer: Franz Fedier Mintage: 56,000 |
Obverse: Berner Altstadt Reverse: Clock tower and buildings, value, year, "Helvetia" | |
Year: 2004 Subject: Chillon Castle Designer: Jean-Benoît Lévy Mintage: 56,000 |
Obverse: Chillon Castle Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2004 Subject: FIFA centennial Designer: Joaquin Jimenez Mintage: 14,055 |
Obverse: Flowers in the center of a cross Reverse: Soccer ball, value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2004 Subject: Three Castles of Bellinzona Designer: Marco Prati Mintage: 56,000 |
Obverse: Three Castles of Bellinzona Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2005 Subject: 100th anniversary of the Geneva Motor Show Designer: Roger Pfund Mintage: 51,000 |
Obverse: Partial view of a prototype car Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2005 Subject: Chapel Bridge Designer: Hans-Peter von Ah Mintage: 51,000 |
Obverse: Chapel Bridge, "Kapellbrücke Luzern" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2006 Subject: 100 years of the postbus Designer: Raphael Schenker Mintage: 46,000 |
Obverse: 1906 postbus, "1906–2006" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2006 Subject: Federal Palace Designer: Benjamin Pfäffli Mintage: 41,000 |
Obverse: Federal Palace Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2007 Subject: 100 years of the Swiss National Bank Designer: Roger Pfund Mintage: 52,747 |
Obverse: Arthur Honegger, "SNB BNS 1907-2007" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2007 Subject: Munot Designer: Hansueli Holzer Mintage: 45,000 |
Obverse: Munot Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2008 Subject: Ice hockey centenary Designer: Roland Hirter Mintage: 51,000 |
Obverse: Two hockey players, "Ice Hockey 1908-2008" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2008 Subject: Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn Designer: Benno K. Zehnder Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Locomotives Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2009 Subject: Swiss Museum of Transport Designer: Werner Meier Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Transport vehicles Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2009 Subject: Brienz Rothorn Bahn Designer: Benno K. Zehnder Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Locomotive and rail car Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2010 Subject: 100 years of the Bernina Railway Designer: Benno K. Zehnder Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Train on viaduct Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2010 Subject: Centenary of Henry Dunant's death Designer: Pierre-Alain Zuber Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Henry Dunant, Swiss flag, "Henry Dunant 1828-1910" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2011 Subject: 100th anniversary of Max Frisch's birthday Designer: Daniel Frank Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Max Frisch Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2011 Subject: Pilatus Railway Designer: Benno K. Zehnder Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Locomotive Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2012 Subject: 100th anniversary of the Jungfraubahn Designer: Benno K. Zehnder Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Jungfraubahn, year Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2012 Subject: Globi Designer: Robert Lips Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Globi holding cake, "Globi" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" | |
Year: 2013 Subject: 100th anniversary of the first transalpine flight Designer: Angelo Boog Mintage: 57,000 |
Obverse: Blériot XI plane flying over the Alps, Oskar Bider's signature, "ERSTE ALPENÜBERQUERUNG", "+1913" Reverse: Value, year, "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" |
References[]
- Images of the Swiss Commemorative Coins in Silver – Swissmint
- Numista: 20 Franken — Switzerland 1883–1896
- Numista: 20 Franken — Switzerland 1897–1949
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