The Swiss Helvetia coins are a beautiful addition to any collection, and the 20 Swiss Francs coin is a great place to start. This coin features a stunning image of Helvetia, the female personification of Switzerland.
One of the most distinctive features of the 20 Swiss Francs coin is its size, measuring 23.2 mm in diameter. This makes it a bit larger than some of the other coins in circulation.
The Swiss Helvetia coins have a rich history, with the first coins featuring this design being minted in 1888. This design has undergone several changes over the years, but the iconic image of Helvetia remains a constant.
Coin Details
The 20 Swiss Franc Gold Coin is a popular choice among investors and collectors alike. Each coin is made with 0.1867 troy ounces of fine gold, a significant amount of precious metal in a relatively small package.
The coin's dimensions are 21mm in diameter and 1.25mm thick, with a gross weight of 6.45 grams. This makes it easy to stack and store, a major advantage for those looking to build a gold reserve.
Some coins may be restrikes, which is worth noting for serious collectors. However, for most investors, the fact that these coins are minted semi-irregularly from 1883 to 1949 is less relevant.
The Coin's Creation
Switzerland initially chose not to issue its own gold francs when it joined the currency union, a decision that lasted for almost twenty years.
The reason for this was largely due to the influx of gold coinage from its major trading partners, Italy and France, whose coins were deemed legal tender by the Swiss authorities.
The face value of the gold coins in the currency union was set roughly to equal the market rate for gold, making it unprofitable to mint and issue such coins.
In 1883, Switzerland started issuing its own version of the gold franc, largely due to a political squabble with France over "coinage parasitism".
The issuance of these coins was relatively low for the next twenty years, but increased significantly during World War I.
Between the First and Second World War, Switzerland issued approximately 51 million gold francs, or 83% of all the Swiss 20 franc coins issued since 1883.
Switzerland Coin Details:
The Switzerland Coin Details are quite fascinating. Here are some key facts to keep in mind:
The Swiss Helvetia coins are made with 0.1867 troy ounces of fine gold.
These coins were minted semi-irregularly from 1883 to 1949, with some coins being restrikes.
The face value of the coin is 20 Swiss Francs (CHF), which is a significant amount of money.
The coin's diameter is 21mm, roughly the size of a U.S. five-cent piece, and it's 1.25mm thick.
The gross weight of the coin is 6.45 grams, with 5.805 grams of gold content.
The 20 Franc Swiss Gold Coin is 90% pure gold, making it a highly sought-after investment opportunity.
Here's a breakdown of the coin's specifications:
These coins are highly popular among gold investors due to their large mintage of over 60 million coins.
Coin Mintages by Year
The Swiss 20 Franc Gold Coin has been minted in various quantities over the years. More than 60 million coins were minted from 1883 until 1949.
The mintage numbers vary greatly from year to year. In 1883, a relatively high mintage of 400,000 coins was produced.
In the early years, the mintage numbers were often in the hundreds of thousands. By 1922, however, the number had increased significantly to 2,784,000 coins.
The numbers continued to fluctuate throughout the years. In 1935, a record-breaking 20,009,000 coins were minted.
Here's a breakdown of the mintage numbers for some of the most notable years:
The mintage numbers can be a good indicator of the coin's rarity and value.
Value and Worth
The value and worth of a 20 Swiss Francs coin can be broken down into two main categories: melt value and numismatic value.
The melt value of a 20 Swiss Francs coin is determined by its gold content and current market price. Based on the coin's 0.1867 troy ounces of bullion, its intrinsic melt value is $505.65.
If you're looking to buy a capsule to store your coin, you can find them on Amazon for around $24.95. The capsule is designed to hold a 22mm coin and comes in a tube with a black cap lid.
The coin's metal content and purity are also worth noting. It's made of 0.900 fineness gold, which is a relatively high purity level.
Here are some key specifications of the 20 Swiss Francs coin:
Features and Security
The 20 Swiss francs coin, also known as the Vreneli series, is a highly secure and sought-after currency. It features up to 18 security features, including a tilting digit that can only be seen from an unusual angle and a UV digit that can only be seen under ultraviolet light.
In terms of physical characteristics, the 20 Swiss francs coin is made of gold with a 10% copper content, weighing 6.45 grams and measuring 21.00 mm in diameter. It has a thickness of 1.25 mm and a round shape, with a milled technique and coin alignment.
The security features of the 20 Swiss francs coin make it one of the most secure currencies in the world.
Features
The Vreneli series of coins is a fascinating aspect of Swiss numismatics. Issued by Switzerland, these coins have been in circulation since 1897 and were demonetized on July 29, 1944.
The Vreneli series is a type of standard circulation coin, featuring a gold composition with 10% copper. Each coin weighs 6.45 grams and measures 21.00 mm in diameter and 1.25 mm in thickness.
The coins are made of a gold alloy with a copper content, giving them a distinct appearance and weight. The gold content is 90% pure, with the remaining 10% being copper.
Here's a summary of the Vreneli series coin features:
The Vreneli series coins are a notable part of Swiss currency history, and their features reflect the country's commitment to producing high-quality coins.
Security and Counterfeiting
The Swiss franc notes are considered the most secure in the world, with up to 18 security features including a tilting digit that can only be seen from an unusual angle.
The rate of counterfeited banknotes is remarkably low, especially for the Swiss franc, which has a rate of about 1 in 100,000 as of 2011.
In comparison, the euro has a much higher rate of counterfeiting, with about 1 in 20,000 banknotes being fake.
The United States dollar and the pound sterling also have higher rates of counterfeiting, with about 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 3,333 fake banknotes respectively.
These security features and low rates of counterfeiting make it difficult for counterfeiters to produce convincing fake banknotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new 20 Swiss franc?
The new 20 Swiss franc note features a creative design motif of light, represented by a hand holding a prism that disperses colors. This theme is also reflected in the constellations depicted on the globe.
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