10 Swiss Francs Vreneli Gold Coin | 1911 - 1922

10 Francs Vreneli — the small one

3.2258 g gross, 900 fine, 2.903 g of pure gold, 19 mm across and about 0.9 mm thick. It is exactly half the 20 Franc Vreneli, and follows the same Latin Monetary Union standard.

Struck at Bern, mintmark B, in only seven years: 1911 to 1916 and 1922. Total mintage across the whole run was about 2.6 million pieces, which is small next to the 20 Franc.

Specifications

Obverse and reverse

The obverse shows the head of a young woman facing left, hair braided, an alpine garland at her neck and mountains behind, with HELVETIA above and the designer’s signature F. LANDRY. She is the figure the coin is named after.

The reverse carries the Swiss cross on a sunburst above a spray of alpine flowers, with 10 FR, the date and the Bern mintmark. The edge is reeded.

No longer legal tender

The Vreneli was demonetised on 27 September 1936. That matters for one reason only: HMRC’s gold bullion test asks whether a coin is or has been legal tender in its country of origin. It has been, so it qualifies.

Exactly 900, and why that matters

HMRC’s test for gold bullion is a fineness of not less than 900 thousandths. This coin is exactly 900. It clears the threshold, but with nothing to spare — a coin a shade below that line would attract VAT as a collectable rather than being treated as bullion gold.

VAT and UK capital gains tax

HMRC treats a coin minted after 1800 as bullion gold if it is at least 900 thousandths fine, is or has been legal tender in its country of origin, and normally sells at no more than 180 per cent of the open market value of its gold (VAT Notice 701/21A). The Vreneli is 900 fine, was Swiss legal tender and is sold close to the gold price, so it meets all three tests.

Capital gains tax is a separate matter. The UK exemption follows sterling legal tender, so it covers Sovereigns and Britannias but not a Swiss coin. This is a statement of the published rule, not tax advice — your own position depends on your circumstances.

Questions buyers ask

Is this the well-known Vreneli? It is the small version. The familiar one is the 20 Franc; this is half its weight.

How much gold does it contain? 2.903 g of pure gold in a 3.2258 g coin.

Is it still legal tender? No, it was demonetised in 1936. That does not affect its status as bullion gold.

Which date will I receive? A mixed date from the 1911 to 1922 range, as available.

Authenticity checked at GoldInvest24 before dispatch. Other sizes are on the historic gold coins page. Live quotes on the precious metals prices page.