Coins of the Swiss franc

The current series.

The coins of the Swiss franc are the official coins used in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. There are coins of 5 cents (German: Rappen, French: centimes), 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents (½ franc), 1 franc, 2 francs and 5 francs. In the past, there were also coins of 1 and 2 cents.

History

A ten-cent coin from 1879.

The country's name is on all the coins as Confoederatio Helvetica, the Latin name of the Swiss Confederation, or Helvetia specified.

The oldest coins are still valid today—the 10 Rappen coins dating back to 1879. They are therefore among the world’s oldest coins still valid today. To date, they have the same design and the same alloy (copper, nickel). Until 1967, the circulating coins with face values of ½ franc to 5 francs were of silver alloy. These were withdrawn because the price of silver alloy exceeded the face value.

The 2-cent coins were made invalid in 1978, and 1-cent coins were made invalid in 2007, long after they had fallen out of daily use.

Circulation

Since 2004, moreover, the existing pure nickel 20 Rappen coins of the years 1881–1938 have been withdrawn from circulation because machines cannot detect them. Today, all the coins except the 5 Rappen coin (aluminum bronze since 1981) are in a copper nickel (cupronickel) alloy. Seven coins (1995) are currently in circulation:

Image	Value	Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse
	5 Rappen	17.15 mm	1.25 mm	1.8 g	92% Cu, 6% Al, 2% Ni	Plain	Libertas head (often misinterpreted as Helvetia)	Value
	10 Rappen	19.15 mm	1.45 mm	3 g	75% Cu, 25% Ni	Plain	Libertas head (often misinterpreted as Helvetia)	Value
	20 Rappen	21.05 mm	1.65 mm	4 g	75% Cu, 25% Ni	Plain	Libertas head (often misinterpreted as Helvetia)	Value
	50 Rappen	18.20 mm	1.25 mm	2.2 g	75% Cu, 25% Ni	Milled	Standing Helvetia	Value
	1 Franc	23.20 mm	1.55 mm	4.4 g	75% Cu, 25% Ni	Milled	Standing Helvetia	Value
	2 Francs	27.40 mm	2.15 mm	11.9 g	75% Cu, 25% Ni	Milled	Standing Helvetia	Value
	5 Francs	31.45 mm	2.35 mm	13.2 g	75% Cu, 25% Ni	Inscribed	Alpine herdsman (often misinterpreted as William Tell)	Value

Commemorative coins

The commemorative Swiss coins include series of 5-franc coins (uni-metallic and bi-metallic), 10-franc coins (bi-metallic), 20 Franc coins (83.5% silver), 50, 100 and 250 Franc coins (90% gold).

See also

• Swiss franc
• Rappen
• Vreneli
• Banknotes of the Swiss franc
• Swissmint

Gallery

• 

  10-franc commemorative Swiss coin from 2008.

• 

  1-rappen coins are not valid any more since 2007.

External links

• Banknotes and coins (Swiss National Bank)
• Swiss coins (www.zumbo.ch)