Goldvreneli 2026: Weight, Value, History and Rare Dates

The Goldvreneli is Switzerland's most iconic gold coin — a numismatic cultural asset and a solid precious metals investment. Anyone investing in Goldvreneli should know the precise technical specifications and numismatic characteristics.

Technical Specifications: What Does a Goldvreneli Actually Weigh?

The 20-franc Goldvreneli (Helvetia-Vreneli, minted 1897–1949) has the following exact specifications per the official coin catalogue:

• Total weight: 6.451 grams
• Fineness: Au 0.900 (900 thousandths gold)
• Fine gold content: 5.806 grams
• Diameter: 21 mm
• Status: demonetised

For comparison: the 10-franc Vreneli (1911–1922) weighs 3.226 grams with 2.903 grams fine gold (also Au 0.900).

History: Helvetia and Vreneli — Two Types

Important distinction: the name "Vreneli" refers to issues from 1897 onwards bearing the distinctive "Vreneli" portrait. The predecessor issues of 1883–1896 depict a different Helvetia and are designated "20 Francs Helvetia". Both have the same weight (6.451g) and fineness (Au 0.900).

Rare Dates: The Real Rarities

Rarity is determined by mintage. Consulting the coin catalogue reveals the following particularly noteworthy dates:

The Gondo Strikes: Absolute Rarities

Among the 20-franc Vreneli there are two exceptional special strikes:

• 1893 — 25 pieces Gondogold: Only 25 examples in "Gondogold" (gold alloy from the Gondomine), catalogue prices 75,000–125,000 CHF per piece
• 1897 — 29 pieces Gondogold: Also proof pieces, equally rare
• 1897 — 12 pieces Probe "Stirnlocke": Only 12 struck examples, catalogue prices up to 180,000 CHF in mint state
• 1871 and 1873 — Proof Strikes of the 20 Fr. Gold Coin: Official proof pieces of the 20-franc gold coin were issued in both years. These are traded today between CHF 8,000 and CHF 50,000.

Small Mintages: 1887 and 1904

• 1887: Only 176 pieces struck (20 Francs Helvetia) — extremely rare, catalogue price up to 200,000 CHF
• 1888: Only 4,224 pieces struck (20 Francs Helvetia) — very rare, catalogue price up to 15,000 CHF

The 1926 Date: Only 50,000 Pieces

The 20-franc Vreneli of 1926 was struck in a mintage of only 50,000 pieces — making it one of the rarest regular Vreneli dates. Current trading price: CHF 900 to CHF 1,200 depending on condition.

1935 LB: The Largest Mintage — and a Special Case

The 20-franc Vreneli 1935 LB (LB = Lettre de Brevet) was struck with a mintage of over 20 million pieces — the largest single mintage of any Vreneli date. Why so many? These coins were re-struck as a store of value and means of payment well into the 1950s and 1960s, even though the official date reads 1935. For investors this means: this coin is common and competitively priced, with little numismatic premium.

1947 and 1949: Not the End, But the Conclusion

Contrary to a widespread misconception, 1947 is not the last mintage year of the Vreneli. The final regular strike occurred in 1949 with a mintage of 10 million pieces — making 1949 readily available. The 1947 date has a mintage of 9.2 million and is equally common.

Current Market Value May 2026

The fine gold content of a 20-franc Vreneli is exactly 5.806 grams. At a current gold price of approximately 115 CHF per gram (approx. 4,549 USD × 0.886 CHF/USD ÷ 31.1035), the pure gold value is around 749 CHF. In the market (e.g. Philoro, ZKB, PostFinance) the Vreneli trades at a premium of typically 3–8 percent. Current market prices for common dates (e.g. 1935 LB, 1947, 1949): approx. 680 CHF.

Rare dates such as 1926 (50,000 mintage) command a higher premium and are traded by numismatic dealers from 900 CHF and upward.

Investment Summary

The 20-franc Goldvreneli is an excellent investment coin thanks to its wide availability, good liquidity, and Swiss heritage premium. For pure gold value, common dates (1935 LB, 1947, 1949) are most cost-effective. Investors seeking numismatic upside should focus on low-mintage dates — particularly 1926 with only 50,000 pieces, or the Gondo strikes for specialist collectors.

10-Franc Vreneli

The 10-franc Vreneli was minted between 1911 and 1922. Weight: 3.226 grams, fine gold: 2.903 grams (Au 0.900). Current market price for common dates: approx. 431 CHF.

Rare Proof Pieces: 1910 and 1911

In 1910 and 1911, official proof pieces of the 10-franc Vreneli were issued — with a mintage of just 56 pieces each. These numismatic rarities are traded today for up to CHF 90,000.

100-Franc Vreneli

The 100-franc Vreneli is a rare and valuable Swiss gold coin. It was minted exclusively in 1925 with a mintage of only 5,000 pieces — a large proportion of which were subsequently melted down, making the actually available quantity considerably smaller. Weight: 32.258 grams, fine gold: 29.032 grams (Au 0.900). Current trading range: CHF 12,500 to CHF 25,000.