Switzerland has been minting 1/2, 1, and 2 franc coins with this pattern since 1875. Helvetia is the female national personification of Switzerland, officially Confederatio Helvetica, the 'Helvetic Confederation'. Her image on the coin is the traditional one. A non-traditional rendering by ccdck appears in our secondary image. From Wikipedia: 'Helvetia is the Roman name for an ancient region of central Europe occupying a plateau between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. Helvetia corresponded roughly to the western part of modern Switzerland, and the name is still used poetically.'

These coins were minted in silver until 1968, so pre-1968 coins carry bullion value as well as collector premium, the value added by demand from coin collectors.

1/2 FRANC BEFORE 1968: 0.067 troy ounces silver
1 FRANC BEFORE 1968: 0.1445 ounces silver
2 FRANC BEFORE 1968: 0.289 ounces silver

Look up the value of silver at web sites such as kitco.com. Below are listings of approximate catalog values for these coins.

1/2 FRANC 1875 TO 1894
worn: $15 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $50
well preserved: $120
fully uncirculated: $300

1/2 FRANC 1895 TO 1941
worn: $2 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $10
well preserved: $80
fully uncirculated: $200
coins dated 1901B are more valuable, about $60 in average circulated

1/2 FRANC 1942 TO 1967
worn: less than $1 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $2
well preserved: $4
fully uncirculated: $8

1/2 FRANC 1966 TO DATE
worn: less than $1 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: less than $1
fully uncirculated: $3

1 FRANC 1875 TO 1904
worn: $4 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $20
well preserved: $60
fully uncirculated: $300

1 FRANC 1905 TO 1955
worn: $1 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $3
well preserved: $8
fully uncirculated: $50

1 FRANC 1956 TO 1967
worn: $2 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $3
well preserved: $4
fully uncirculated: $7

1 FRANC 1968 TO DATE
worn: less than $1 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: less than $1
fully uncirculated: $3

2 FRANCS 1874 TO 1896
worn: $15 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $40
well preserved: $220
fully uncirculated: $1000
coins dated 1879B are more valuable, about $80 in average circulated
coins dated 1894 and 1896 are very rare, catalogs show multiple 1000s of dollars in uncirculated condition

2 FRANCS 1897 TO 1937
worn: $5 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $12
well preserved: $40
fully uncirculated: $100
coins dated 1901B are more valuable, about $150 in average circulated
uncirculated coins with dates 1904B, 1907B, and 1908B carry catalog values over $1000, much less if circulated

2 FRANCS 1938 TO 1967
worn: $2 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $6
well preserved: $18
fully uncirculated: $30

2 FRANCS 1968 TO DATE
worn: less than $1 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: $2
fully uncirculated: $5

Be sure to use our Important Terminology page to convert these catalog values to actual values.

CoinQuest thanks ccdck for use of the Helvetia image.