Summary

• The 2 franc coin from 1874 - 1967 looks exactly the same as its successor.

• The 2 franc silver coin is out of circulation, but with a lot of luck you can still find one in circulation.

• The 2 franc coin from 1874 - 1967 is popular with silver savers.

The design of the 2 franc coins remained unchanged from 1874 until the abolition of silver coins in 1969. After Switzerland became a founding member of the Latin Monetary Union in 1865, this was the first coin to be designed specifically according to the specifications of the Monetary Union. The alloy is therefore 835/1000 silver, and with a weight of 10 g this results in a fine weight of 8.35 grams.

The appearance of the 2 Swiss franc silver coin from 1874 onwards

The coin was designed by Albert Walch from Bern.

The obverse shows the value 2 FR above the year of minting. This is framed by a wreath consisting of oak leaves on the left and alpine roses on the right. Between the wreath and the edge there is a B which stands for Bern, where the federal mint was located.

On the obverse is the standing Helvetia, below which is the name HELVETIA. The figure is surrounded by 22 stars.

This motif was also adopted by the successor coin made of a nickel-copper alloy; only in 1983 was another star added for the canton of Jura.

Latin Coinage Union and Off-Course Setting

Under French leadership, the Latin Coinage Union was created in 1865 by France, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy. In the process, the member states agreed on a uniform monetary system. Since at that time the value of the currency was contained in the coins as metal, the coins could be exchanged 1:1. Nevertheless, each country kept its own currency and its own coins; paper money was not yet used by these states at that time. 1 franc was defined as 4.5 grams of silver, but the 2 franc/franc/lira pieces were fixed at the weight of 8.35 grams of silver. As a result, the value of the coin was not fully covered by the precious metal it contained, and it was thus a divisional coin. In contrast, the more valuable coins such as 5, 10 and 20 francs were covered by the precious metal value, which made them curant coins. The Latin Monetary Union broke up in 1926, but the silver two-franc coins continued to be minted until 1967 and were only withdrawn from circulation in 1971. Since 1968, these coins have been made of a nickel-copper alloy.

The 2 Swiss franc silver coin from 1874 for silver savers

Because of the high silver content (835/1000) and its status as a former means of payment, this coin is popular with silver savers. Even today you can still find some coins in circulation, and you can also buy them in larger quantities from coin dealers. The price is close to the price of silver, making it an alternative to silver bullion coins such as the silver Krugerrand or the silver Maple Leaf, etc.

Frequently asked questions about the 2 franc silver coin from 1874 onwards

How much is a two-franc silver coin worth?

The face value at which the Swiss National Bank would exchange it is far below the value of the processed silver. Because of inflation, today the silver value of a two-franc coin exceeds the face value and is around 5 francs.

The silver value is calculated as follows: Silver price per kg / 1000 * 8.35.

Where can I get money for my two-franc silver coin?

You can either sell silver coins at a scrap silver buyer or, even better, you can sell them directly to another pirvate individual via premesec.ch.

How do I recognise a 2 franc silver coin?

Even though the silver coins look almost the same as the copper-nickel alloyed ones, there are some differences. The colour of silver differs both when the coins are new and when they are slightly tarnished. There is a very clear difference in the sound of the coins, silver coins have a much brighter sound. The year of minting is a clear characteristic; coins older than 1968 were still made of silver.