By The Federal Mint Swissmint ……
On January 25, 2018, the Federal Mint Swissmint launches two new commemorative coins for collectors and lovers. The bimetallic Silver Thistle coin concludes the three-part series “Flora Alpina”. At the same time, Klausenpass launches a new series of silver commemorative coins on Swiss Alpine passes.
Silver Thistle
The silver thistle, which is protected in some places, is probably one of the best known and most popular Alpine plants. The prickly beauty is silver with her big, silvery shining radiate wreath and her flower pillow is a popular photo subject. The plant’s poisonous taproot has been used as a medicine since earlier times against many diseases. Today the beautiful blossom is often found as an ornament in rock gardens. The silver thistle (Carlina acaulis) belongs to the daisy family and within this to the genus Eberwurze.
The perennial herbaceous plant is almost stalkless. Depending on the location she can grow to a height of 40 cm. The silver thistle is widespread in Europe but is an endangered species in several countries, where it is under conservation. It prefers calcareous, lean pastures or sparse forests in altitudes from 800 – 2,600 m. The flowering period extends from July to October. The silver thistle (“Silberdistel”) is also known as Wetterdistel. It would often be nailed to the outside of a door as a natural weather station. If a high-pressure area were approaching, the flower would open – or close, if the pressure were lower. With this special 10-franc coin the Swissmint continues its three-part series Flora Alpina. The design for the 10-franc bimetallic coin comes from the Bernese graphic designer Jenny Leibundgut.
Series: FLORA ALPINA
Specifications:
- Designer: Jenny Leibundgut, Bern
- Alloy: outer ring of aluminum bronze, core of copper-nickel
- Weight: 15 g
- Diameter: 33 mm
- Denomination: 10 Swiss francs
- Release Date: January 25, 2018
- Finish: Uncirculated, Proof
Mintage:
- Uncirculated: 29,000 pieces (19,000 pieces are boxed; 1,000 pieces in folders; 9,000 pieces in coin sets)
- Proof: 5,500 pieces (3,000 pieces in cases with numbered certificates of authenticity; 2,500 pieces in coin sets)
Klausenpass
The Klausenpass, with a pass height of 1,948 m and a length of 46 km connects the Urner Schächental with the rear Linthal in the canton Glarus. It was not an important pass in Ancient Roman nor during the Middle Ages. By the High Middle Ages, the pass consisted of a simple cattle trail, used mainly for driving cattle along the alpine pastures on the Urnerboden. A customs office in Bürglen controlled the insignificant local trade.
After alpine disputes over the border between Uri and Glarus on the Urnerboden – this is on the Uri-facing side of the pass – an agreement was reached by end of the 12th century. With the opening of the Gotthardbahn in 1882, the economic interest in a Klausenpass road grew because the new North-South axis relied on cross-connections. After the army lent its support to the project, the realization progressed rapidly between 1893 and 1899.
On June 15, 1900, the time had come: the first stagecoach drove over the pass and opened the magnificent landscape between Linthal and Altdorf to tourism. The Klausenpass also got through the legendary Klausen Race historic hill climb for cars and motorcycles. With the 20-franc silver coin Klausenpass, the Swissmint launcehs a new three-part commemorative coin series: Swiss Alpine passes. Industrial designer Vito Noto from Cadro is responsible for the coin’s design.
The new commemoratives were released January 25, 2018 to a limited edition on www.swissmintshop.ch, as well as from individual coin dealers and banks.
Series: Swiss Alpine Passes
Specifications:
- Designer: Vito Noto, Cadro
- Alloy: Silver 0.835
- Weight: 20 g
- Diameter: 33 mm
- Denomination: 20 Swiss francs
- Released Date: January 25, 2018
- Finish: Uncirculated, Proof
Mintages:
Uncirculated: 30,000 pieces (29,000 are boxed; 1,000 in folders)
Proof: 5,000 pieces with numbered certificate of authenticity
Both coins for sale online at www.swissmintshop.ch or call +41 58 4 800 800 as well as at individual coin dealers and banks.
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About the Swiss Federal Mint Swissmint
The Swiss Federal Mint Swissmint strikes coins for circulation in Switzerland and produces collector coins for the numismatic market. The coins produced in bimetal, silver and gold feature an official face value and are characterized in different qualities. Swissmint is also the official authority for authenticity checks on behalf of the public sector.
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