Before 1883 each Swiss canton printed whatever it wanted, and none of them knew what each others' money looked like. In 1881 a new state law was passed that all Swiss bank notes had to look the same. Two years later the first nation-wide bank note was created. This interim note was designed by Vienna professor Josef Storck and depicted a majestic, standing Helvetia - the female personification figure of Switzerland. She retains her place on Swiss money even today.