Vreneli
The gold coin is the most famous gold coin of Switzerland. The 20-franc coin was minted from 1897 to 1949. The total circulation of 58.6 million copies. The name Vreneli ( diminutive of the first name Verena traditional Swiss ) received by the coin, designed by Fritz Ulisse Landry image of women. The coin is the successor to the 1883-1896 embossed gold coin Helvetia.
From 1911 to 1922, a 10 -franc Vreneli was coined. The circulation was 2.6 million units. In the year 1925 5000 100 franc Vreneli were minted. The coins met the standards of the Latin Monetary Union.
Goldvreneli are popular as gifts and competitive prices in Switzerland.
History
1895 of the Swiss Federal Council decided the transformation of the 20-franc piece. The federal Department of Finance determined that the coin should carry a Swiss, national motive, an allegorical or historical- symbolic representation of Switzerland.
In May 1895, the jury assessed the designs 21 received and recommended to be awarded the second prize at the Neuchâtel artist Fritz Ulysse Landry. His Helvetia representation was considered too young, too experienced individually and enthusiastic. The mountain scenery was seen in the background as too powerful. Then Landry revised his design. At the suggestion of the Federal Department of Finance, the Federal Council awarded the first prize to finally Fritz Landry.
In the fall of 1895, the revised model was finished. The young woman now seemed more mature, the hair was no longer open, but tied in a ponytail. Around her neck she wore a wreath of newly Edelweiss flowers instead of rhododendron branches. The jury recommended the design to execution.
1897 twelve test specimens were prepared and submitted to the Federal Council. A concerned magistrate criticized the forelock that " the woman room a frivolous appearance " give his opinion. Then the forelock was omitted from the regular embossing.
Professionals, the new gold coin was initially strongly criticized. They felt, as it did, the jury in the design competition, the girl depicted as too young to be unworthy to represent Switzerland. The Swiss Numismatic Rundschau wrote this: " Better our country would have been represented by William Tell or the guys from Riitli. " In contrast, the Vreneli was very popular with the general population from the beginning.
From 1931, many states began to devalue their currencies due to the world economic crisis. On September 27, 1936, the Swiss franc was devalued by the " federal decision on extraordinary measures to restore the financial balance in the federal budget " by about 30 % in order to adapt it to the changing international conditions. The gold parity was reduced from 290 mg to 190 to 215 mg of fine gold per franc. In addition, the Swiss National Bank with its obligation to exchange banknotes in gold, relieved. This lost the gold coins, even though they were set up today is not outside the course, their market value, as the value of gold 20-franc piece rose to about CHF 28. The gold coins have since been mainly hoarded.
Gondo -issues
1897 29 coins from Gondo lighter gold from the former gold mine in Gondo Valais Canton were also affected. The alloy of these coins contains copper and silver, so that the lighter color will be. In addition, a small cross in the middle of the Swiss cross is hallmarked on these coins.
Description
Front: Bust of Woman looking to the left, tied up the rich hair in braided ponytail, the dress embroidered with edelweiss, against a backdrop of mountains. Above the word " Helvetia ", the margin lower right deepens the artist's name " F. LANDRY ," Perlkreis. Reverse: Left of the denomination 20 and the right currency denomination Fri, between the Swiss coat of arms in a cut-out shields on lush oak branch. About the shield center, at a branch end ribbon knot with two ends flapping on each side, below the year number to the right of the mintmark "B" for Bern. Perlkreis. Edge lettering exalted: 22 stars ( for the cantons, 7/7/8 ). The post-war coins for the vintage 1935 with an extra "L" to the left of the year. Those with the year numbers 1947 and 1949 bear instead of stars the Latin edge lettering AD legem ANNI MCMXXXI ( " under the Act of 1931 ").
The back of the 10 - and 100 -franc Vrenelis shows at the top of the Swiss cross in a halo. In the center is the denomination 10 FR and 100 FR and the year. At the bottom of branches with flowers of alpine rose and gentian are shown. At the bottom of the mintmark B is attached. The edge of the 10 -franc Vreneli is fluted and the 100-franc Vreneli bears the Latin inscription: ★ ★ ★ DOMINUS providebit ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ( " The Lord will make provisions ").
Vintages and conditions
10 -franc Vreneli
20 franc Vreneli
* 1897 were minted from gold lighter Gondo 29 coins. The vintage 1935 ** L (L = lingot / bars) was coined in the following years: 1945: 3,500,000; 1946: 7'108'813; 1947: 9'400'000