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5 Francs - Federal Treasury French text
| Issuer | Swiss Federal Treasury (Caisse Fédérale) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1914 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 116 × 74 mm |
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| Obverse description | Blue on pale underprint. At left, a portrait vignette of Libertas, and at right a portrait of Arnold Winkelried, flanking the central text panel. The Swiss arms appear at top center, with the obligation text in French below. Numerals '5' appear in each corner. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | 5 5 LA CAISSE FÉDÉRALE payer au porteur CINQ FRANCS en espèces ayant cours légal. Berne, le 10 Août 1914. DÉPART. DES FINANCES CAISSE FÉDÉRALE 5 5 |
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| Comments |
Switzerland entered World War One neutral but financially rattled — when gold hoarding accelerated in August 1914, the Federal Treasury issued these emergency notes to plug the gap left by disappearing coin. The Caisse Fédérale, not the Swiss National Bank, was the issuing authority, which is why this series sits outside the main SNB catalog and often confuses collectors.
Stückelberg was a Basel painter, not a professional banknote engraver, and his involvement reflects the speed of the commission rather than standard procurement practice. The French-text version was one of several language variants issued simultaneously for Switzerland's Romand cantons.