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20 Rappen Libertas, copper-nickel
| Issuer | Swiss Federal Mint (Swissmint) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1939-2024 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 4.00 g |
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| Obverse description | Allegorical effigy of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, facing right, rendered as a female portrait with elaborately braided hair bound with a ribbon and crowned with a tiara. The portrait is executed in high relief in a classical style. The circular legend CONFŒDERATIO HELVETICA arcs around the upper periphery, while the inscription LIBERTAS flanked by ornamental stops and the date appear in the lower field. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central denomination numeral '20' positioned in the upper field above the mintmark letter 'B', all enclosed within a decorative wreath composed of two alpine rose (Rhododendron ferrugineum) sprays bearing blossoms and foliage, the branches joined and tied at the base with a ribbon bow. The design is simple and heraldic in character, with the floral wreath providing an elegant frame to the face value. |
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| Additional information |
The 20 Rappen is the oldest unchanged coin design still in Swiss circulation — the Libertas head dates to 1881, and the type has survived two world wars, the introduction of the franc as a decimal currency anchor, and every subsequent monetary reform without a single design revision. Switzerland's political neutrality and monetary conservatism made redesign politically unnecessary and practically unthinkable.
The copper-nickel alloy replaced the original nickel composition in 1881 and has remained fixed ever since. During World War II, several neighboring states debased or suspended coinage entirely; Swiss minting continued uninterrupted throughout.