2021-05-04 Tue

The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. The legend became much prominent in the 16th century, with the rumors of a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de León, first Governor of Puerto Rico; “found” a spring when he traveled to what is now Florida.

The legend, however, goes way back as we even have Alexander the great saying that he found a healing “river of paradise”, the earliest historian Herodotus also mentions such a spring in his writings. Similar stories resurface over time and are heard from all the countries!

Whatever the legend says, this mythical fountain has been depicted on Swiss banknotes CHF 500 Swiss Francs banknote. This note in the hues of brown from the 5th Swiss banknote series depicts on the obverse an effigy of a woman looking into a handheld mirror. The reverse features an illustration of the fountain of the youth designed by Swiss graphic designer Pierre Gauchat.

The banknote depicts a beautiful illustration where there’s a well in the center flanked by women and women taking a bath in the well. The old women on the left side bathe in the magical waters of the fountain and become young and beautiful again.

Image Courtesy: colnect.com