Sunday, January 4, 2009

Collecting Swiss 20 Franc Gold Coins

By Christina Goldman

The gold Swiss 20 Franc coin, also familiar as the Swiss 20 Franc Vreneli, is without doubt one of the world's most elegant and classically designed Swiss gold coins. Since Switzerland has always exercised buttressing its currency with gold, Switzerland has long been acknowledged as one of the most financially sound and influential countries in the world.

The Swiss gold coin most commonly known as the Swiss 20 Franc is a well-crafted and endearing piece that exhibits the profile of a Swiss woman, more generally recognized as Vreneli, with braided hair, wearing flowers and looking left.

Over her head are the words "Helvetia", an additional common epithet for this specific coin. The diametrical face of the coin exhibits the familiar Swiss shield over an oak limb 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

When it comes to collecting or investing in Swiss gold coins, genuine Swiss gold coins are some of the most beautiful ever minted. 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.

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