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Buy Goldvreneli 20 Franken (1897 - 1949) on PreMeSec
Summary
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The 20 franc gold vreneli has two sisters the 10 and the 100 franc gold vreneli.
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The 20 franc gold vreneli has been produced since 1897.
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A total of 58,634,296 20-franc gold vrenelis have been produced.
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The gold vreneli is also a popular gold investment internationally.
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In 1897, 29 gold vreneli were made from Swiss gold.
The most important facts in brief
The Goldvreneli is a Swiss currency coin, it exists in three nominations 10 francs, 20 francs and 100 francs, whereby the latter was only minted in a very small edition. Also special are twenty-nine 20-franc Vreneli which were produced in 1897 from gold mined in the Gondo mine in the canton of Valais.
| Nominal value | Alloy | Weight | Fineness | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHF 10.00 | 90 % Au, 10% Cu | 3,226 g | 2,903 g | 2,650,000 |
| CHF 20.00 | 90 % Au, 10% Cu | 6,452 g | 5,807 g | 58,634,284 |
| CHF 100.00 | 90 % Au, 10% Cu | 32,258 g | 29,032 g | 5'000 |
Today, its gold value exceeds the market value of 20 francs by more than ten times. For this reason, the coin is no longer used in payment transactions, although it has never been withdrawn from circulation.
History of the 20-franc gold vreneli
When the Federal State of Switzerland minted its first coins in 1850, they were exclusively silver coins. From 1865, Switzerland was a member of the Latin Monetary Union, which fixed the franc at 4.5 grams of silver or 0.290322 grams of gold. Nevertheless, it was not until 1883 that the 20 franc piece was introduced with the gold coin Helvetia. The Helvetia gold coin is the direct predecessor of the gold vreneli.
In 1895, the Federal Council decided to give the 20-franc piece a new look. After several designs had been revised, the one by Fritz Ulysse Landry was chosen.
From today's perspective, the discussion about a "frivolous" forelock on one of the designs is amusing.
The Vreneli was subsequently minted from 1897 to 1941. Thus, the gold Vreneli outlasted the Latin Monetary Union by a good 30 years, which ceased to exist as early as 1910.
As a result of the world economic crisis in the 1920s and 1930s, all the major trading powers devalued their currencies. This meant that in the countries of the Latin Monetary Union, a unit of currency could no longer be exchanged for 0.290322 grams of gold, as was the case before the devaluation, but that one received less gold for it. The strong franc, which had not been devalued, presented Switzerland with similar challenges as the devaluation of the euro at the beginning of the 21st century. For this reason, Switzerland devalued its currency by 30% directly after France in 1936. As a result, one suddenly had to pay 28 francs to buy the gold of a gold vreneli. Thus, the 20-franc exchange rate lost all meaning and from then on the vrenelis were only hoarded and traded at their gold value.
The gold-silver ratio at that time was 15.5, whereas today it is much higher at around 70.
The appearance of the gold Vreneli
The obverse shows the head of a young woman in front of a mountain panorama. Her hair is braided into a plait and she wears a wreath of edelweiss around her neck. To the right below the shoulder is the inscription F. Landry, the name of the artist who designed the coin.
Due to the youthful appearance of the woman, the name Vreneli, which is a trivialisation of the name Verena, came into use. The inscription HELVETIA is enthroned above the head. On the outermost edge there is a circle of pearls.
The reverse shows a Swiss coat of arms, flanked by the face value of FR 20. An oak branch with acorns can be seen in the background. At the bottom is the year of minting and slightly to the right is a B which stands for Bern, where the Federal Mint is located. There are coins that have an L to the left of 1935, these were struck in 1945,46 and 47. The reverse is also surrounded by a circle of pearls.
The edge of the coin is not smooth but is adorned with 22 stars, each star representing a canton.
20 franc gold vreneli made of Swiss gold
In Switzerland, geography lessons in schools teach that Switzerland has no mineral resources. This statement is false, as iron, coal and gold can also be mined in the Swiss mountains. However, the deposits are less productive and the labour is more expensive than elsewhere. It is therefore no longer economically worthwhile to exploit these deposits. There were gold mines in the canton of Ticino and in Valais in the 19th century. In 1897, 29 gold vreneli were minted from Gondo gold. After that, the gold mine in Gondo was shut down. Some of its ruins can still be visited today.
Significance of the 20 franc gold vreneli today
The Vreneli is still mainly hoarded. While the 1 ounce coins from Austria, the USA and Canada are popular with many investors, the Vreneli is nowadays often given as a gift for births, first communions, weddings and various other occasions. Of course, this also has to do with the fact that a gold Vreneli is about five times lighter and therefore much cheaper than an ounce of gold.
Buying 20 franc gold Vreneli
As buyers of Goldvreneli coins will notice, the price of 20-franc Goldvreneli coins at banks and dealers is significantly higher than the precious metal value. It is therefore a good idea to buy gold Vreneli from private individuals. The price should be the same or slightly lower than if you buy it from a bank. Gold coins can be bought from other private individuals on PreMeSec.ch, and the various filters on the offers page create transparency in the offers.
Buying Goldvreneli coins as gifts
The fine weight of 5.807 g makes the coin valuable but not prohibitively expensive. This makes it an excellent gift. In fact, the coin is probably the most popular gift given to children at birth, christening or first communion. This is also due to its golden nature; many gift-givers buy Goldvreneli because they can pass on something that is immune to constant currency devaluation and can be resold by the recipient at a suitable time.
Due to its widespread use as a gift, many Swiss people associate positive memories with the Goldvreneli.
Risk warning regarding collector's value
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Buying Goldvreneli for collections
Due to its historical significance and Swiss origin, the Goldvreneli also appeals to collectors. Collections are usually created according to a theme, and as Swiss coins from the 19th and 20th centuries that also date back to the Latin Monetary Union, Goldvreneli fit into various collections. The 10-franc Goldvreneli was minted for seven years. The 20-franc Goldvreneli was minted for an impressive 29 years in various editions. The rarest coin is the 100-franc Goldvreneli, which was minted exclusively in 1925 in a quantity of just 5,000 pieces and therefore has a particularly high collector's value. The mintages of the various years can be found in the Swissmint minting list. Special boxes are also available for collectors to display their Gold Vreneli collection.
Buy Gold Vreneli for savings
Savers who want to buy small amounts of gold on a regular basis now have a wide range of products to choose from. In addition to bars, which are available in almost all sizes, they can also buy coins. The market offers modern investment coins such as Krugerrands, Maple Leafs and Vienna Philharmonics not only in large 1-ounce formats but also in 1/10 or ¼ ounce sizes. However, the Gold Vreneli is just as suitable and should at least be considered as an option.
Buying Goldvreneli as an iron reserve
People who buy Goldvreneli as an emergency reserve for various scenarios have a different focus than gift-givers or collectors. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the global economy has been shaken by crises on several occasions. Following the crisis in Crimea in 2014, another major armed conflict must also be expected in Europe. For this reason, many people are also considering a worst-case scenario. In such a scenario, gold coins can offer opportunities to make purchases outside the financial system. Since Goldvreneli weigh significantly less than the classic one-ounce coins (31.1034 g), they are suitable for paying for smaller goods and services.
In both Germany and the USA, private gold ownership was banned in the first half of the last century, with the exception of historical coins from collections. Since Goldvreneli coins are now also considered historical coins, some of these buyers expect to benefit from this in certain scenarios.
Selling 20 franc Gold Vreneli coins
Since banks and dealers only pay the metal value or even slightly less for a gold Vreneli, selling to private buyers can be an attractive option.
The prices that can be demanded for these coins depend on the year of issue, condition and market prices. Even for the common 20 franc Goldvreneli coins from 1934 LB, 1947 and 1949, banks and dealers demand a significant premium on the metal price. A Goldvreneli that is offered at a price slightly below these prices but higher than the gold price should find a buyer. Valuable vintages such as 1897, 1903-1906 and 1926 can be sold at significantly higher prices.
Register now and sell your 20 franc gold coin Vreneli!
Sustainable gold
Sustainability is an important issue for more and more people. At the time when the gold for the Goldvreneli coins was mined, such concerns did not exist and it can be assumed that very harmful methods were used. Nevertheless, it is extremely environmentally friendly to buy gold that has been mined a long time ago and is available in the form of coins. Even though gold for modern coins is mined in a much more environmentally friendly way today, even the most modern mines still have a massive impact on nature.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the 20 franc gold vreneli
Why is the gold vreneli so popular?
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The 20 franc gold vreneli is the Swiss gold coin that was produced in the highest number of pieces. This makes it the Swiss gold coin with the best price-performance ratio.
How many 20 franc gold vreneli are there?
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Between 1897 and 1949, a total of 58,634,296 pieces were minted, the largest number of which was struck between 1935 and 1949, namely 39,383,813.
What is the rarest vintage of the 20 franc gold vreneli?
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Only 50,000 were minted in 1926, making it by far the rarest vintage. Goldvreneli minted in 1926 are traded at almost double the gold price.
Are the 20 franc gold Vreneli still being produced?
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No, the last gold Vreneli were produced in 1949.
How much is a 20 franc gold Vreneli worth?
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The value of a gold Vreneli depends on many factors: Frequency of vintage, state of preservation and, of course, the value of the gold. The price of the gold is certainly the most important factor. You should never sell a gold vreneli for less than the price of gold; if it is a very rare specimen from 1904-1907 or even 1926, the value will be much higher.
How much does a 20 franc gold vreneli cost?
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The price is determined by the market; the 20 CHF Goldvreneli is usually sold at a price well above the value of the gold.
How much do I get for a 20 CHF gold vreneli?
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If you trade it privately, you can well ask the gold price or a little above. Banks and precious metal dealers usually only pay the gold price, often minus a handling fee.
Is the gold vreneli still official currency?
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No, it is no longer legal tender today due to a decision by the Federal Council to devalue the Swiss franc on 27.09.1936, gold was suddenly worth more than 20 francs, later it was taken out of circulation.
Is it better to buy a gold vreneli or a 5 gram bar?
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Gold vreneli make an excellent gift with a Swiss connection; after all, it is the Swiss gold coin par excellence. But if it's just a matter of investing in gold, a 5 gram gold bar often offers the better price per gram and is close to the value of a gold vreneli, which contains 5.8 grams of fine gold.
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