Description

In 1871, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Italy agreed to standardize the weight and face value of their gold coins so that they could trade on par value, much like the ECU today. They settled on the 20 Franc gold coin, containing .1867 ounces of pure gold. Each country produced beautiful coins reflecting its own unique heritage and history. From the 1800s to the mid-1930s, gold 20 Franc coins were the backbone of European commerce. In 1933, when the United States abandoned gold coinage as currency, the rest of the world quickly followed suit and mintage ceased. Today these 20 Franc gold coins are not only pieces of history, they are works of art in their own right and fascinating reminders of a bygone golden era.

The obverse of this Swiss 20 Franc, considered by some as the loveliest of all Swiss coin designs, features a bust of a Vreneli, the charming 'Swiss Miss' of Swiss lore. With braided hair, she wears a garland of flowers and appears against the background of the Swiss Alps. Above her head appears the word 'HELVETIA', which is why this coin is also referred to as a Helvetia (Helvetia is now known as a western region in Switzerland, but it once referred to the entire area). The reverse of the coin features a Swiss shield over a background of an oak branch tied with ribbons.
The historic significance of these coins, their size (.1867 troy ounce) and their .900 fine purity have made this coin a favorite with investors and collectors who want the security of bullion coins with low premiums.

Actual Gold Content: .1867 troy ounce
Purity: 90%
Fineness: .900 Gold
Diameter: 21.0 mm
Thickness: 1.40 mm
Front design: Vreneli bust
Back design: Swiss shield
Minted: 1897 - 1949
Minted face value: 20 Francs