2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
The Swiss Confederation is a very interesting country with rich history and culture. In addition, this is one of the few countries in Europe that has retained its national currency, and has not switched to the euro. Perhaps that is why many collectors and numismatists collect Swiss coins.
A Brief History
The official currency of Switzerland is the Swiss franc, which was put into circulation in 1798. Soon it was stopped to be issued, and was resumed only in 1850. Swiss coins also appeared at the same time, although the issue of metal coins in the country was earlier.
The Swiss franc is divided into one hundred rappen. To date, the Swiss Central Bank issues coins in denominations of five, ten and twenty rappen. There are also metal denominations of half a Swiss franc, one franc, two and five. The two rappen coin ceased to be minted in 1974, and in 2006 the issue of coins worth one rappen was discontinued.
Description
The 5 Rappen coin is made from an alloy of aluminum, copper and nickel. All the rest, except for commemorative and anniversary ones, are made from an alloy of copper and nickel inthe ratio of 750 to 250. On the reverse of the coins in denominations of five, ten and twenty rappen, the denomination is depicted, framed by a wreath, and on the obverse - an allegorical image of a human head and the inscription Swiss Confederation in Latin.
On the coins of denominations of 0.5 francs, one and two francs, the reverse depicts the denomination, around which there is a wreath, the obverse is decorated with an image of a standing woman with a shield-flag in her hands and a spear. This is an allegory for Helvetia, who is the personified symbol of Switzerland. There are 22 stars around Helvetia.
The coin of 5 francs (Switzerland) depicts on the obverse the image of the national literary hero of the country, William Tell. Also on the front side there is an inscription - the Swiss Confederation in Latin. The reverse shows us the image of the country's coat of arms, framed by stems of edelweiss and gentian flowers.
Swiss coins value
Collectors rarely purposefully collect Swiss money, but there is still interest in them. You can buy Swiss coins without much difficulty even in Russia. Of course, not every antiques store or specialized outlet has Swiss ones. But there are many online stores where you can easily buy Swiss coins. Their prices are usually not too high. Ordinary coins with a denomination of 5 rappen will cost you only 20-30 rubles. The value varies depending on the year of minting and the degree of preservation.
Also, price formation is influenced by itsdenomination and circulation. So, Swiss commemorative coins, which are issued periodically, will cost much more than ordinary coins minted regularly and in large volumes. For example, commemorative coins issued for the centenary of Le Corbusier in 1987 can be bought in Russia for about 500-600 rubles. Other commemorative coins minted in the 80s will cost approximately the same.
The older the coin, the higher its value. This is due to the antique value, as well as the fact that the longer the coins are in circulation, the more difficult it is to find them later. The rarity adds the amount to the price. In this case, the cost is determined individually. This is done by a qualified specialist who forms the price, guided by a number of factors. An experienced collector can independently determine the value of a Swiss coin, but in this case, there is a high probability of an incorrect assessment.
Commemorative coins
Commemorative coins are issued in Switzerland, but this does not happen all the time. Most often they were denominated: ten, twenty and fifty Swiss francs. In 2005, a series of bimetallic ten-franc coins was issued, on which the Jungfrau mountain was depicted. In 2009, another series of 10 francs was published, which depicted the Swiss National Park.
In 2007, a batch of commemorative coins with the image of the Mouton fortress was minted. Their denomination was equal to 20 francs. In 2004, 50 franc coins were issued, featuring the Matterhorn.
Conclusion
CoinsSwitzerland, although they are not in extremely high demand among numismatists-collectors, are still quite interesting. Abroad they are collected much more often than in Russia. Therefore, it is easier to find them there. In specialized Russian stores, the choice of Swiss coins is small, but in online stores there are plenty to choose from. Their cost is not too big, and it’s not difficult to order at all.
For the general collection, Swiss coins will be a great addition and decoration, so it makes sense to pay attention to them. And the fact that they are not in high demand in Russia will make them a kind of exclusive to your unique collection. If you want to buy a certain coin that is not available in Russian online stores, you can also search for it on foreign sites. Often rare items are sold at online auctions.
Recommended:
Coins of the Soviet Union and modern Russia: what metal are coins made of, their features and varieties
The production of money on the territory of our country at all times was associated with a number of difficulties: the economy either developed or collapsed sharply, dragging faith in the Russian currency to the bottom, giving rise to massive disbelief in it and inflation. Now we have clear state standards for production and minting, all reforms are taking place gradually and accurately, but during the times of revolutions, civil and world wars, the question of what metal coins are made of in our country faded into the background
Change coins: history, meaning, modernity. Small change coins from different countries
A small change is needed in any state, in any city where strict payments are made between people: for the purchase of food and other necessary goods, for the services received. In different countries, small change coins are very different from each other, it depends on the official currency. Let's find out what change money we need if we go on a trip abroad
The currency of the DPRK. Brief history, description and course
The article is devoted to the North Korean currency and contains a description of banknotes, a brief history of the currency and the exchange rate
Coins of Japan: history and modernity, commemorative coins
The first coins in the Land of the Rising Sun were brought from a neighboring state. Find out how the monetary system of Japan developed and what coins operate in the country now
History of porcelain: a brief history of development, types and description, technology
Ceramic products are the oldest kind of craft from all the skills mastered by man. Even primitive people made primitive utensils for personal use, hunting decoys and even earthenware utensils like hut ovens for cooking. The article tells about the history of porcelain, its types and method of obtaining, as well as the distribution of this material and its path in the artistic work of various peoples
