Switzerland
Swiss federal coinage dates to the law of 7 May 1850: a decimal franc of 100 rappen, minted at the Federal Mint in Bern (B mintmark), and a founding membership in the Latin Monetary Union of 1865. The Vreneli gold pieces and the shooting thalers make Switzerland one of the richest small-country fields in European numismatics.
Coins of Switzerland
Every coin entry in this wiki — one tap to the full page.
Showing 3 of 3
Swiss 5 FrancsHerdsman/Helvetia Type (1922–Date)View coin ›Swiss Shooting Thaler (Schützentaler) 5 FrancsShooting thalers are large silver 5-franc coins struck to commemorate Switzerland's federal shooting festivals (Schützenfeste), first…View coin ›
Swiss Vreneli 20 Francs Gold (1897–1949)The Vreneli — "little Verena" — is Switzerland's most beloved gold coin, with the Helvetia portrait…View coin ›History & collecting
The story behind the coins, one tap away.
- Issued: the great Swiss shooting-festival commemoratives — 20 distinct government issues in total: the cantonal pieces (Graubünden 1842 at 4 francs, Glarus 1847 at 40 batzen, Geneva 1851 double thaler at 10 francs), 15 federal 5-franc issues from 1855–1885, and the final 1934 and 1939 pieces.
- Composition: .900 fine silver, 25 g, 37 mm for the 1855–1885 issues; the 1934 and 1939 finals are .835 fine, 15 g, 31 mm.
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing.
- Issued: 1922 to date, Paul Burkhard’s herdsman with the Alps — Switzerland’s longest-running circulating design.
- Composition, including dated changes: .835 fine silver for 1931–1967 and 1969; copper-nickel for 1968 and from 1970.
- Design notes: obverse herdsman, reverse Helvetia; edge inscription DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT (“the Lord will provide”). Earlier 5-franc types: Seated Helvetia (1850–1886) and the Helvetia Head (1888–1916).
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing.
- Issued: 1911–1922, the half-sovereign of the Vreneli family.
- Composition: .900 fine gold; approximately 2.6 million pieces struck.
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing. For metal value, use the melt calculator.
- Issued: 1897–1949 — regular issues 1897–1936, then restrikes dated 1947 and 1949; legal-tender status ended 29 September 1936.
- Composition: .900 fine gold, 6.452 g, 21 mm.
- Design: Fritz Landry’s Helvetia with the edelweiss and mountain backdrop — “Vreneli” from the affectionate Swiss name for the little girl.
- Notable varieties (verified only): the 1947 and 1949 restrikes carry the edge inscription “AD LEGEM ANNI MCMXXXI”; the “L” mark denotes frozen-date L1935 restrikes — distinguishing them from the original 1897–1936 strikes.
- Mintage highlights (verified): approximately 58.6 million pieces in total across the series.
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing. For metal value, use the melt calculator.
- Issued: 1925, the crown jewel of the Vreneli family.
- Composition: .900 fine gold; verified mintage 5,000 pieces.
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing. For metal value, use the melt calculator.
The 20-franc Vreneli is Switzerland’s liquid gold coin — .1867 oz of gold that trades alongside Napoléons and sovereigns, with the 1947/1949 restrikes the most available. Switzerland has no standalone modern bullion wiki entry in this guide.
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing. For metal value, use the melt calculator.
Values move; always check live sold listings on the linked guides. Key dates and high-value pieces require authentication.
Switzerland is a two-track field: the Vreneli for gold (buy the 20 francs by weight; the 1947/1949 restrikes trade closest to melt, originals carry the premium) and the 5-franc pieces for silver — the shooting thalers for the commemorative story, the herdsman for the long type run. The .835-to-copper-nickel switch (cupronickel in 1968, back to silver in 1969, cupronickel from 1970) is the hinge date for the herdsman series. For values, work from the linked entries’ live sold listings; the Vreneli tracks gold spot via the melt calculator.
Europe Red Book v2 research chapter, published September 15, 2026. Values are intentionally excluded; use authenticated sold-market evidence.
Real prices come from real sales. Check what Switzerland coins are actually selling for right now.
Live eBay listingsSold eBay listingsMatching checklists & toolsAs an eBay Partner, The Coin Wiki may earn from qualifying purchases.