Swiss National Bank (SNB) Second banknote series, 1911

Second banknote series, 1911

These notes, which were first issued between 1911 and 1914, were replaced in 1956–57. This represents an extraordinarily long life-span. The 5-franc note was intended to replace the silver 5-franc coin, which was stockpiled during times of war or serious crisis and thus effectively removed from payment transactions. Of all the National SNB's denominations, this note was in circulation for the longest period of time and was only recalled in 1980.
(Recommended reading: The Swiss banknote 1907–1997, Michel de Rivaz, COLLECTION LA MEMOIRE DE L'OEIL, ISBN 2-88100-080-0)

1000


Portrait front	Woman's head in left-hand side medallion
Motif back	Foundry
Prevailing colour	purple and orange
Format (mm)	131x216
Graphic artist	Eugène Burnard
Date of first issue	16.9.1911
Date of recall	1.10.1958
Worthless from	1.10.1978
Print	Waterlow, London

500


Portrait front	Woman's head in left-hand side medallion
Motif back	Embroiderers
Prevailing colour	red and brown
Format (mm)	125x200
Graphic artist	Eugène Burnard
Date of first issue	24.12.1912
Date of recall	1.10.1958
Worthless from	1.10.1978
Print	Waterlow, London

100


Portrait front	Woman's head in left-hand side medallion
Motif back	Mower (reaper)
Prevailing colour	dark blue
Format (mm)	115x181
Graphic artist	Ferdinand Hodler
Date of first issue	16.9.1911
Date of recall	1.10.1958
Worthless from	1.10.1978
Print	Waterlow, London


Portrait front	Woman's head in left-hand side medallion
Motif back	Woodcutter
Prevailing colour	green
Format (mm)	106x165
Graphic artist	Ferdinand Hodler
Date of first issue	22.12.1911
Date of recall	1.10.1958
Worthless from	1.10.1978
Print	Waterlow, London


Portrait front	'Winkelried' (Swiss warrior) in left-hand side medallion
Motif back	Ornaments, rosette, and numeral of value
Prevailing colour	purplish brown
Format (mm)	82x144
Graphic artist	Balzer (Orell Füssli employee)
Date of first issue	Reserve note
Print	Orell Füssli, Zurich


Portrait front	'Vreneli' (woman's head) in left-hand side medallion
Motif back	Ornaments, rosette, and numeral of value
Prevailing colour	light blue and purple
Format (mm)	95x163
Graphic artist	Balzer (Orell Füssli employee)
Date of first issue	31.7.1914
Date of recall	31.12.1935
Worthless from	1.1.1956
Print	Orell Füssli, Zurich


Portrait front	Woman from Neuchâtel in left-hand side medallion
Motif back	Ornaments, rosette, and numeral of value
Prevailing colour	yellowish brown
Format (mm)	82x135
Graphic artist	Gabriel Lory (fils) and Friedrich Moritz
Date of first issue	(reserve note)
Print	Waterlow, London


Portrait front	William Tell in left-hand side medallion
Motif back	Ornaments, rosette, and numeral of value
Prevailing colour	greenish brown
Format (mm)	70x125
Graphic artist	Balzer (Orell Füssli employee)
Date of first issue	3.8.1914
Date of recall	1.5.1980
Worthless from	1.5.2000
Print	Orell Füssli, Zurich