Swiss National Bank (SNB) Fifth banknote series, 1956

Fifth banknote series, 1956

The four higher-denomination notes, which were issued from 1957, formed a thematic and formal unity for the first time in the history of Swiss banknotes, in that the portrait on the front is connected with the motif on the back of the note. It was the first time that a ten-franc note was not only designed and printed but also issued. (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 on the right
Motif back	Danse macabre
Prevailing colour	purple
Format (mm)	125x228
Graphic artist	Pierre Gauchat
Date of first issue	14.06.1957
Date of recall	01.05.1980
Worthless from	01.05.2000
Print	De La Rue, London

500


Portrait front	Woman's head on the right
Motif back	Fountain of youth
Prevailing colour	reddish brown
Format (mm)	115x210
Graphic artist	Pierre Gauchat
Date of first issue	14.06.1957
Date of recall	01.05.1980
Worthless from	01.05.2000
Print	Waterlow / De La Rue, London

100


Portrait front	Boy's head on the right
Motif back	St Martin
Prevailing colour	dark blue
Format (mm)	105x191
Graphic artist	Pierre Gauchat
Date of first issue	14.06.1957
Date of recall	01.05.1980
Worthless from	01.05.2000
Print	De La Rue, London


Portrait front	Girl's head on the right
Motif back	Apple harvest
Prevailing colour	green
Format (mm)	95x173
Graphic artist	Pierre Gauchat
Date of first issue	14.06.1957
Date of recall	01.05.1980
Worthless from	01.05.2000
Print	Waterlow / De La Rue, London


Portrait front	General Dufour on the right
Motif back	Thistle
Prevailing colour	light blue
Format (mm)	85x155
Graphic artist	Hermann Eidenbenz
Date of first issue	29.03.1956
Date of recall	01.05.1980
Worthless from	01.05.2000
Print	Orell Füssli, Zurich


Portrait front	Gottfried Keller (Swiss poet) on the right
Motif back	Bennet blossoms
Prevailing colour	brownish red
Format (mm)	75x137
Graphic artist	Hermann Eidenbenz
Date of first issue	01.10.1956
Date of recall	01.05.1980
Worthless from	01.05.2000
Print	Orell Füssli, Zurich