Swiss 20 francs Vreneli
Switzerland · gold · 1897-1949
Overview
The Vreneli is the Swiss 20 franc gold coin struck from 1897 to 1949 at the Bern Mint. Its familiar name comes from the young woman with braids on the obverse, a Helvetia drawn by Fritz Ulysse Landry before a mountain landscape; the reverse carries the shield with the Swiss cross on an oak branch. It follows the Latin Monetary Union standard: 6.45 g of 900 ‰ gold, that is 5.805 g of fine gold, with a diameter of 21 mm and a thickness of 1.3 mm, the same values as the Napoléon to within a fraction of a milligram. Part of the pieces were struck after the war with an earlier date, recognisable by the letter L next to the year. Very widespread in Switzerland and the neighbouring countries, the Vreneli often reaches the counter in good condition, having circulated little. At Gold & Silver Company in Dottignies, every Vreneli is weighed and appraised in front of the person; the assay in the agency is what counts.
Characteristics
| Country | Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Metal | gold |
| Gross weight | 6.45 g |
| Fineness | 900 ‰ |
| Fine metal | 5.805 g |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Thickness | 1.3 mm |
| Years of issue | 1897-1949 |
How to check it
Indicative check: weigh the coin to the centigram and measure its diameter with callipers; a deviation of more than 0.1 g or 0.2 mm from the reference values warrants an examination in the agency. The assay in the agency is what counts.
At Gold & Silver Company
Every coin is weighed and appraised in front of the person, at the agency in Dottignies (Mouscron); the price is set at the rate of the moment of the transaction and is never published in advance.
Welcome policy: for gold, Gold & Silver Company receives by appointment from one kilogram; below that, no appointment is needed during opening hours; for silver, no appointment is needed whatever the quantity.
Related terms
Further reading
Sources
Characteristics checked against the reference numismatic catalogues and the issuers' official specifications (September 2026). The appraisal in the agency is what counts.