The soaring value of gold means the minting of a new Vreneli, a popular Swiss gold coin, generated enormous interest – but the whole affair turned into an online fiasco. In Switzerland, it’s worth taking extra care when moving house or clearing out a flat: it’s not uncommon to find a Vreneli hidden away in a drawer, a bag or even in the lining of an old coat. These gold coins are indeed popular. For a long time they were a fairly common gift from godparents at christenings or confirmations. They were also often a prize at bingo. In a nutshell, they’re not a rarity in Swiss households. What’s more, they were minted en masse. The most common coin, with a face value of CHF20, was produced in 58,234,255 copies between 1897 and 1935 and then 1945 and 1949. The obverse (heads) shows the Swiss coat of arms, the face value of the coin and the year of issue. The reverse (tails) features a young girl symbolising Switzerland, with mountains in the background and the inscription “Helvetia”.
