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50 Franken 1965, Switzerland

in Krause book Number: 48f
Years of issue: 23.12.1965
Edition: Serie: 21A-22Z 5000000
Signatures: Der Präsident des Bankrates: Dr. Brenno Galli (1959 - 1978), Der Hauptkassier: Herr Otto Kunz (1954 - 1966), Ein Mitglied des Direktoriums: Dr. Walter Schwegler (1954 - 1966)
Serie: Fifth Series
Specimen of: 4.5.1961
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 173 х 95
Printer: TDLR (Thomas de la Rue & Company), London

* All pictures marked magnify are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.

** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.

50 Franken 1965

Description

Watermark:

Avers:

50 Franken 1965

Girl with a wreath of wild flowers on her head.

The picture prepared by artist Pierre Gauchat especially for banknote 50 Franken.

On the right side, above the denomination, is short silver cross as Swiss emblem. The cross reminds us that Switzerland's sovereignty is inviolable. For many centuries, the logo has remained virtually unchanged.

Denominations in numerals are across all field of banknote.

Revers:

50 Franken 1965

Apple harvest. Mother breastfeeding her baby. Girl and guy harvested apples in a bag. A wooden staircase staying near the apple tree.

The picture prepared by artist Pierre Gauchat especially for banknote 50 Franken.

Denominations in numerals are in left part of banknote.

Comments:

Graphic artist: Pierre Gauchat.

Security strip.

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.

The Swiss National Bank showed great courage for innovation when it chose utterly novel motifs for the fifth banknote series after World War II. The series was designed by the graphic artist Pierre Gauchat, who chose neither heroes nor farmers and landscapes for his notes. Rather, his allegories illustrated universal human values like fertility, compassion, and even death. On first sight, the apple harvest stands for the fruitfulness of Switzerland and its citizens. On a deeper level, however, it can be seen as a symbol for the different functions of money. Money serves to build social networks; it nourishes like breast milk; it can, through work, bear fruit; and it can be held in reserve - sometimes even in a basket. A special characteristic of these bold, unique banknotes was their enormous sizes; they were "big as sheets", as people said.