![The single currency of the Swiss Confederation proved to be a bone of contention. There was also fierce debate about Helvetia’s arm. Illustration by Marco Heer.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/titel-2-300x225.jpg)
The first Swiss franc
Francs or guilders? In the mid-19th century, this question divided Switzerland. In the end it was the franc, but further dispute erupted over the design of the new national currency.
![Two ducats minted by the City of Zurich, 1776.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/dukaten-300x298.jpg)
![Portrait of Johann Jakob Speiser.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/speiser-236x300.jpg)
![Petition from Zurich (Aussersihl) for a Swiss franc based on the guilder.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/bittschrift-zurich-211x300.jpg)
![5-franc coin from 1850 featuring the Helvetia by Antoine Bovy.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/helvetia-300x300.jpg)
![Studio portrait of Antoine Bovy, around 1850.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/bovy-214x300.jpg)
![The Eidgenössische Zeitung printed the unfavourable opinion of ‘Madame Helvetia’ in December 1851.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/zeitungsartikel-1-214x300.jpg)
The first time…
There’s always a first time. In this series, we will be looking at historic Swiss firsts. The topics covered are very diverse: from the first zebra crossing to the first ever popular initiative. The articles have been produced in cooperation with the Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv (Swiss Federal Archives).