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20 Francs Federal constitution, trial
| Issuer | Swiss Confederation |
|---|---|
| Year | 1998 |
| Type | Coin pattern |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse features the obverse design of the historic Swiss 5 Francs coin of 1850, enclosed within a square frame. The central motif presents the seated allegorical figure of Helvetia in classical drapery, facing left, surrounded by the original legends of that issue. Two Swiss crosses in relief flank the square frame, one to the left and one to the right, set against the plain field. The anniversary dates 1848 and 1998 appear prominently alongside the inscription HELVETIA and the engraver's signature A. BOVY, referencing Antoine Bovy, the designer of the original 1850 coinage. |
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| Additional information |
This is a trial strike — an essai produced for internal evaluation rather than public release — tied to the 1998 commemorative program marking the 150th anniversary of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 1848. Trial pieces of this type were struck in limited numbers for approval purposes and never entered circulation. Most were retained by the mint or distributed through official channels to collectors and institutions.
The 1848 constitution itself was a remarkably rapid achievement, drafted and adopted within weeks following the brief Sonderbund War of 1847.