Swiss Gold Coins

One of the most popular Swiss Gold Coins is the Swiss 20 Franc gold coin, which is also known as the Swiss 20 Franc Vreneli.

The Swiss 20 Franc gold coin is without doubt one of the world's most dignified and classically designed Swiss gold coins. This lovely piece that displays the profile of a Swiss woman, more commonly known as Vreneli, with braided hair, wearing flowers and facing to the left.

Above her head are inscribed the words "Helvetia", another common name for this particular coin. The opposite side of the coin displays the familiar Swiss shield over an oak branch that has been tied with ribbons and includes the denomination and the date.

The Swiss 20 Franc Gold coin was minted in Bern and consists of 90% gold. Altogether, 29 pieces were struck in 1879, a small cross imprinted in the center of the Swiss cross on the obverse side distinguishing these from others.

The coin, measuring 21 mm across, has been minted in various years, the most commonly known being:

1897 to 1916
1922
1925 to 1927
1930
1935
1945 to 1947
1949

The first ever striking of gold coins in Switzerland occurred in about 1492, although the Swiss 20 Franc gold coins are the most famous and were issued in Switzerland from 1897 to 1935.