10 franken 1959

Common. This note was part of a regular series issued between 1955-1977, with substantial print runs typical of standard denomination circulation notes. Market data from realbanknotes.com shows eBay sales in the $6-$10 range for AUNC/UNC examples (2019-2022), well below the threshold indicating rarity. The 2019 catalogue value of $30 for UNC is modest, and the note remains readily available in the collector market. No special printing variants or short-run characteristics are documented.

Issued on 24 December 1959 by the Schweizerische Nationalbank, this note represents Switzerland's commitment to cultural commemoration through currency design, featuring the celebrated Swiss writer and poet Gottfried Keller. The botanical motifs on the reverse reflect the Swiss tradition of celebrating natural heritage on banknotes, while the multilingual inscriptions in German, French, and Italian reflect Switzerland's linguistic and federal structure during the Cold War era.

The obverse features a left-facing profile portrait of Gottfried Keller, the renowned 19th-century Swiss writer, depicted within an oval decorative frame with intricate circular patterns, wearing glasses and formal period attire. The Swiss flag (white cross on red background) appears prominently on the left side. The reverse showcases detailed botanical engraving of Geum urbanum (Avens flower), executed with fine line work characteristic of intaglio security printing. The entire design employs elaborate geometric wave patterns, ornamental circles, and decorative flourishes throughout, creating a cohesive aesthetic that reflects the artistic standards of mid-20th-century Swiss currency design. Series designation 'Serie 16 Q' and the serial number are incorporated into the overall composition.

FRONT: 'Schweizerische Nationalbank / Banque Nationale Suisse / Banca Nazionale Svizzera' (Swiss National Bank, in three official languages); 'Serie 16 Q' (Series 16 Q); Serial number '031089'; 'Zehn Franken / Dix Francs / Dieci Franchi' (Ten Francs, in three languages); 'Bern und Zurich, 24. Dezember 1959' (Bern and Zurich, 24 December 1959); 'Der Präsident des Bankrates' (The President of the Bank Council); 'Der Hauptkassier' (The Chief Cashier); 'Ein Mitglied des Direktoriums' (A Member of the Board of Directors). BACK: 'Schweizerische Nationalbank / Banque Nationale Suisse' (Swiss National Bank); '10' (denomination numeral).

Intaglio engraving (taille-douce), executed by Orell-Füssli of Zurich (OFZ), the primary security printer for Swiss banknotes during this era. The fine line patterns, intricate geometric designs, botanical details, and three-dimensional quality visible in both obverse and reverse are characteristic of high-security intaglio printing. Multiple plates and detailed engraving work are evident from the complexity and precision of the decorative patterns and portrait rendering.

This note is catalogued as Pick-45e (sixth variety of the 10 Franken 1959 issue). The visual analysis confirms Series 16 Q designation. The PMG population report documents multiple variants (P-45a, P-45h, P-45n, P-45p, P-45r, P-45s1, P-45u) representing different signature and date combinations issued during the 1955-1977 circulation period. This specimen, dated 24 December 1959, represents the initial issue date. Serial number 031089 is a single specimen identifier; future research would clarify if signature varieties, watermark variants, or security feature changes distinguish P-45e from other listed varieties.