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European Gold Jewelry Collection
Swiss 20 Franc “Helvetias”
Featuring the famous “Swiss Miss” of proverb!
“Helvetia” gold 20 francs are often considered one of the loveliest of all Swiss coin designs. The obverse depicts a bust of Vreneli, the charming “Swiss Miss” of proverb, framed against the majestic Alps. Hence these coins are sometimes also called “Vrenelis.” The reverse has a radiant image of the traditional Swiss arms, featuring the famous Swiss cross, and the wreath of the Republic at the bottom.
The name “Helvetia” dates back to Roman times when it was the term for the original inhabitants of what is now Switzerland. Celtic by extraction, the “Helvetii” were conquered by Julius Caesar in 58 B.C. during his famous Gallic campaign (“I came, I saw, I conquered”), setting the stage for his ascendancy as first Emperor of Rome.
Today, Helvetia is a region corresponding roughly to the western part of Switzerland, and the name is still used in poetic reference to the country as a whole.
Design Specifications
| Minted: |
1897-1930, 1935, 1947 & 1949 |
| Gold Content: |
.1867 troy oz. |
Size: |
21 mm diameter |
| Fineness: |
.900 Fine |
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Swiss 20 franc “Helvetia,” obverse, in a rope bezel
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Swiss 20 franc “Helvetia,” reverse, in a plain bezel
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