Time Period: 1816-1839

Currency: Genevan Florin


Timeline

  • 1798-1815
  • Annexation of Geneva by Napoleonic France: The Genevan currency got suspended, and the Geneva mint produced French coins (mint mark "G") during 1799-1805.
  • 21.03.1816
  • Law on the restoration of the Genevan currency; effective 22.03.1816
  • 18.04.1816
  • Low on the issuance of subsidiary coins (amended on 02.04.1817); effective 16.06.1817
  • 22.03.1816
  • Rating of foreign coins in circulation:
    - Silver: 4 Swiss Francs = 12⅔ Genevan Florins; 5 French Francs = 10⅚ Genevan Florins
    - Gold: 16 Swiss Francs = 50⅚ Genevan Florins; 20 French Francs = 43⅓ Genevan Florins; Louis d'Or of 24 French Livres = 50⅚ Genevan Florins.
  • 16.06.1817
  • Start of issuance of new subsidiary coins

Valuation Regimes

  • 1816-1839
  • Metallic currency based on circulating silver coins. Base weight was the Parisian mark / 8 ounces / 24 deniers / 24 grains at 244.752 grams.

Rate Arrangements

  • 22.03.1816
  • Metallic
  • Florin: 2'079.06mg
  • Genevan Livre of 3½ Florins at 137 Parisian grains of fine silver


Time Period: 1839-1851

Currency: Genevan Franc


Timeline

  • 07.02.1838
  • Law on the adoption of a decimal currency in the French silver standard; effective 01.01.1839
  • 18.07.1838
  • Ordinance on the issuance of subsidiary coins (amended on 05.06.1840 and 08.12.1843); effective 01.01.1839
  • 01.01.1839
  • Start of currency exchange:
    - 01.01.1839: Start of issuance of the new coinage.
    - 30.01.1847: Demonetization of the pre-decimal subsidiary coins (the original deadline of 31.12.1846 was extended by law of 13.12.1846).
  • 08.07.1846
  • Law on the issuance of new subsidiary coins (amended on 16.11.1846); effective 01.01.1847
  • 1846-1850
  • Issuance paper money in Genevan Francs by commercial banks:
    - 16.02.1846: Start of paper money issuance by the Bank for the Genevan Commerce (est. 10.11.1845)
    - 01.09.1848: Start of paper money issuance by the Bank of Geneva (est. 12.05.1848).
  • 03.04.1848
  • Law on the issuance of gold coins of 20, 10 Genevan Francs and silver coins of 10, 5 Genevan Francs; effective immediately.
    - To prevent their exportation to France, the coins were produced in different alloys and sizes than the French coins:
    - Gold: 10 Genevan Francs at 3.821 grams gold 0.750 / silver 0.150 fine (10 French Francs at 3.226 grams gold 0.900 fine)
    - Silver: 5 Genevan Francs at 26.011 grams silver 0.865 fine (5 French Francs at 25 grams silver 0.900 fine).

Valuation Regimes

  • 1839-1851
  • Metallic currency based on circulating silver coins (de facto also gold coins although not foreseen in the currency law).

Rate Arrangements

  • 01.01.1839
  • Metallic
  • Franc: 4'500.00mg AG fine
  • 200 Francs to the kilogram of 0.900 silver