Swiss-Suited Playing Cards: A Photographic Archive

A Gallery of Historical and Modern Decks Featuring Suit Variations and Artistic Interpretations

SWISS-SUITED PLAYING CARDS
Suits in this system are shields, bells, roses, and acorns. Perhaps partly due to limited geographical spread, the system has become unified into a single pattern. Court cards are King and two Knaves, distinguished — even by name — according to position of suit symbols on card: "Ober" if at top, "Unter" (or "Under") if at bottom. Cards, now double-headed, have retained the use of a flag (the Banner) in place of '10'. Deuce ('2') always replaces ace, although name of the latter is often used. Note that deuce of shields is now depicted in shape of a heart (!). Deck consists of 36 [D6789BUOK] cards, though 48-card version [D3456789BUOK] is still rarely used.
D=Deuce | B=Banner | U=Under | O=Ober | K=King
Swiss pattern
INFOBOXSwiss national pattern (in the Swiss system).
single-headed Swiss-style playing cards, full-length figures
14
double-headed Swiss-style playing cards, double-headed
32
variants Swiss-style playing cards, variant
27
All other decks (by country):
Germany preview German playing cards, Swiss suits
1
Liechtenstein preview Liechtenstein playing cards, Swiss suits
1
Switzerland sample: designed by Oechslin Swiss playing cards, designed by Oechslin sample: designed by Moehsnang Swiss playing cards, designed by Moehsnang
27

Swiss-Suited Playing Cards: A Photographic Archive

A Gallery of Historical and Modern Decks Featuring Suit Variations and Artistic Interpretations

 
A Visual Archive of Standard Patterns
SWISS-SUITED PLAYING CARDS

LAST UPDATED: 16 SEP 2026

Selected deck:
A Swiss pack made by Müller
INV 0953 | A Swiss pack made by Müller

Conventional pattern
With suit variations, as long as the membership remains recognisable.
single-headed
double-headed
pattern name
Swiss-style playing cards, full-length figures
Swiss-style playing cards
Swiss pattern

Swiss national pattern.
Single-headed [14] | Double-headed [32] | Variations [27]

All other decks (by country)
With suit variations, as long as the membership remains recognisable.
sample
sample
country (A-Z)
German playing cards, Swiss suits
GERMANY

Germany [1]
Liechtenstein playing cards, Swiss suits
LIECHTENSTEIN

Liechtenstein [1]
Swiss playing cards, Swiss suits (1)
Swiss playing cards, Swiss suits (2)
SWITZERLAND

Switzerland [27]