Type details
| Country | Switzerland |
| Currency | CHF |
| Denomination | 20 |
| Series | Eighth series |
| Series year | 1995 |
| Series range | 1995–present |
| Issuer | Swiss National Bank |
| Issuer (native) | Banque Nationale Suisse / Banca Nazionale Svizzera |
| Printer | Orell Füssli Security Printing |
| Front portrait | Le Corbusier |
| Reverse subject | Architectural elements and geometric forms representing Le Corbusier's modernist design philosophy |
| Themes | architect, artist, modernism, architecture |
| Watermark | Portrait of Le Corbusier visible in clear field at right |
| Security features | thread, hologram, microprint, uv, intaglio, optically_variable_ink, see_through_register |
| Colour palette | #f4d03f,#8b4513,#9370db |
| Material | paper |
| Dimensions (mm) | 137x74 |
| Language / script | Latin |
| Languages | fr,it,de |
| Pick # | P-69 |
| Rarity | common |
| Legal status | withdrawn |
| Legal status date | 2021-04-30 |
| Era | 1990_present |
| Default value (low) | 25.0 |
| Default value (high) | 35.0 |
| Value currency | CHF |
Front
Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, 1887–1965), Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner, and one of the pioneers of modern architecture. Known for his influential contributions to the International Style, his works include the Villa Savoye, the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Haut at Ronchamp, and urban planning theories embodied in the Radiant City concept. The note features a stylized landscape with flowering plants (likely reflecting his integration of nature and built environment) and a map of Sweden at right, representing his international influence. Le Corbusier is honoured on this note as one of the most important architects of the 20th century and a key figure in Swiss cultural heritage.
Back
Architectural elements celebrating Le Corbusier's modernist design philosophy, including geometric shapes, the Modulor proportional system he developed based on human measurements and the golden ratio, and a Swiss cross symbol. The text identifies him by name with dates 1887–1965. The design incorporates abstract geometric forms in yellow, orange, and earth tones, characteristic of his use of primary colors and geometric rationalism. The inscription notes that banknotes are protected by criminal law in French, German, and Italian.
History
This note belongs to the Swiss National Bank's eighth series, designed by Jörg Zintzmeyer and issued between 1995 and 1998. The series was notable for its abstract, modernist aesthetic and vertical format, breaking with traditional Swiss banknote design. Each denomination honoured a significant Swiss cultural figure; the 20-franc note featured Le Corbusier. The series was in circulation until replaced by the ninth series, with the 20-franc note officially withdrawn on April 30, 2021. The serial number B370926418 follows the standard Swiss format with prefix letter and numerical sequence. This series represented a bold departure in Swiss currency design, reflecting late 20th-century artistic movements while maintaining Switzerland's reputation for security features and printing quality.
Linked specimens (1)
Merge into another type
Repoints every linked specimen above to the chosen target type, fills any target nulls from this type, then deletes this type. This cannot be undone.