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Swiss Confederation, 20 Francs 1883

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Swiss Confederation, 20 Francs 1883 (obverse) Swiss Confederation, 20 Francs 1883 (reverse)

Republican Switzerland could not put the head of a sovereign on its coins. During the formation of the Swiss state in the year 1848, it was therefore decided that Switzerland's symbol would be the personification of the country. An idealized head thus, and not a real portrait. The head of Helvetia (or Libertas, after the inscription on her diadem) was inspired by coins from antiquity.

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