2019 Christmas coin set also available from Swissmint
By The Federal Mint Swissmint ……
On September 12, 2019, the Federal Mint Swissmint launched a new 20 Franc silver coin commemorating the Furka Pass. This is the second issue–after the Klausen Pass–of a three-part series entitled “Swiss Alpine Passes“. And in addition to this, the Swissmint has also issued its 2019 Christmas coin set.
The Furka Pass is one of the highest and most impressive alpine passes in Switzerland, with a height of 2,429 meters above sea level. It connects the village Gletsch in the canton Valais and the village Andermatt in the canton Uri and forms, together with the Oberalp Pass, an inner-Alpine west-east connection. The area is among the snowiest in Switzerland. On the pass runs the European watershed: to the southwest flows the Rhone towards the Mediterranean; on the other side rushes the (Furka) Reuss towards the northeast into the Rhine and into the North Sea.
The Furka Pass was first documented in the 12th century when hundreds of German-speaking Walsers with their families in Urserental or even further east in Raetia are noted as having used it. In the 14th century, the pass became more and more important for the Wallisians, because they thus gained direct access to the Trans-Alpine route across the Gotthard. In the years 1864 to 1866, the almost 40 kilometers of road–with a width of at least 4.20 meters–from Hospental to Oberwald was built by the cantons of Uri and Valais.
Whether by road or motorcycle, by private car or Postbus, or in the historic Steam train on the gear mountain range – every year, more than 250,000 people cross the Furka Pass and enjoy the spectacular view from places like the famous Hotel Belvédère on the Rhone glacier.
The coin’s design features in the background the landscape relief of the Furka Pass, and in the foreground, it features a historic Postbus of the brand Berna/Seitz. Industrial designer Vito Noto from Cadro is responsible.
Simultaneously, with the special Furka Pass coin appears as the mint’s last issue of the year the 2019 Christmas coin set. The Sondermünzsatz contains, next to this year’s circulation coins, one medal with a Christmas angel blowing a trumpet.
Jenny Leibundgut from Berne is the creator of this design.
The new special embossing and the Christmas coin set 2019 are now in Limited edition available at www.swissmintshop.ch as well as selected Swiss coin dealers and banks.
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About The Federal Mint Swissmint
The Federal Mint Swissmint is responsible for circulating coinage in Switzerland. The Mint also produces special coins and packages for the numismatic market. They also produce bimetallic coins, along with coins in silver and gold. Swissmint is also the official authority in Switzerland for authentication and provides experts for public and private clients.
