20 Francs Switzerland

The Swiss 20 franc gold coin is one of the most recognizable and widely traded historical gold coins in Europe. The coin is composed of 90% gold (21.6 carat) and contains 5.81 grams of pure gold, with a total weight of 6.45 grams. Thanks to its convenient size, international recognition and competitive pricing, the Swiss 20 franc is regarded as an accessible and reliable gold investment coin. The coin symbolizes Swiss solidity and precision.

The Swiss 20 Franc gold coin was issued as a circulation coin between 1883 and 1949, making it a tangible part of Swiss monetary history. There are two official issues: the Helvetia (1883–1896) and the later Vreneli (1897–1949). The Helvetia coins feature a classical bust of Helvetia and are relatively scarce, while the Vreneli coin is known for its refined portrait and larger mintages. Both designs have the same weight and gold content, making them popular with both investors and collectors. It is not possible to determine in advance which coin you will receive.

Delivery and packaging

• Insured shipping or collection by appointment in Alkmaar, Rotterdam or Tilburg
• Each coin individually packaged in a protective plastic coin sleeve
• Secure and insured storage available through Holland Gold Safe

Why choose the Swiss 20 Franc

• 21.6 carat gold (90% purity)
• Highly valued worldwide
• Competitive price per gram of gold
• Classic and historic design
• Swiss reliability

Design

The design of the Swiss 20 franc gold coin dates back to 1883, when Switzerland first introduced the coin as part of the Latin Monetary Union. Unlike France, where the design changed frequently over time, Switzerland issued only two official designs. The first issue, the Helvetia (1883–1896), was designed by Karl Schwenzer. The obverse features a classical bust of Helvetia, the female personification of Switzerland, with the inscription CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA above. The reverse shows the Swiss coat of arms within an oak wreath, along with the denomination 20 F and the year of issue.

In 1897, Switzerland introduced the second and later most iconic issue, the Vreneli, which remained in circulation until 1949. The obverse displays the well-known portrait of a young woman with braided hair set against an Alpine landscape, a design by Fritz Landry that is considered one of the finest in European coinage history. The country name HELVETIA appears at the top, which can sometimes cause confusion as this refers to the Vreneli issue. The reverse features the Swiss cross within an elaborately detailed wreath, accompanied by the denomination 20 F and the year.

Despite differences in artistic style, both issues share identical technical specifications as defined by the Latin Monetary Union. Every Swiss 20 franc weighs 6.45 grams, contains 5.81 grams of pure gold (90% purity) and has a diameter of 21 mm. Thanks to this strict standardization, characteristic of Swiss precision and reliability, both designs are interchangeable and highly tradable on the international market.

Fun fact

The original 1897 design of the Vreneli portrait was rejected by the Swiss parliament. The reason was a playful lock of hair falling across the forehead, which politicians considered too frivolous for a national coin. Artist Fritz Landry was instructed to remove the lock before the design was approved. Only 12 examples of this rejected trial strike are known to exist, making it one of the rarest Swiss coins in existence.

Price and resale value

Would you like to sell your gold coins? Holland Gold offers a buyback guarantee for this coin. We also purchase coins that were not originally bought from us. On our website, under the section “sell to us,” you can see the price we pay for this coin.