Swiss Banknotes
Switzerland has issued some very interesting and beautiful banknotes.
In 2005, the Swiss National Bank organized a competition to design a new series of banknotes. A dozen graphic designers are invited to compete to develop a series of 6 new banknotes with the main theme “Switzerland open to the world”. The competition is won by Manuel Krebs, graphic designer Zurich, but his drawings include representations of blood cells and embryos that offend the sensitivity of the general public. As a result, the National Bank’s General Management decides that the ninth series of Swiss franc banknotes will be based on the model drawings made by Manuela Pfrunder, the second in the competition. This series, initially planned for 2010, is postponed to 2015 because of technical problems encountered in production. The show really starts in April 2016 with the note of 50 francs Type 2015. The show then continues step by step with the 20 francs Type 2015 in May 2017, then the 10 francs Type 2016, in October of the same year. The 200 francs Type 2016 is put into circulation in August 2018, and that of 1000 francs Type 2017, on 13 March 2019. Finally, to complete the new series, the 100 francs Type 2017 is put into circulation on 12 September 2019. “The new notes are legal tender“. (Source: SNB website).
10 Franc
Front and back: Multicolored print predominantly yellow. The main themes of the note are time and a sense of organization. These are materialized on the front by the hands of the conductor beating the measure with his wand and the time zones on the globe. The two themes are reproduced on the back with the clockwork mechanism, the Lötschberg tunnel, and the Swiss railway network. The value in figures “10” is printed in yellow on the left at the bottom of the front and on the top left on the back. The SNB’s translation texts are printed in horizontal blue on the front and vertically on the back and in four languages: Romansh, French, German and Italian.
The banknote contains five new special security features: by tilting the bill, a golden bow moves across the globe and red and green numbers appear on four lines in the reflective strip below the globe. Looking at the note in the light, a triangle and the security thread are perfectly visible, as well as the Swiss cross at the top left which is transformed into a Swiss flag. Finally, by passing the finger on the value and the texts of the SNB, one can feel a slight relief.
20 Franc
Front and back: Multicolored print predominantly red. The main themes of the note are light and creativity. The light is materialized on the front by a hand holding a prism and constellations on the globe. Both themes are illustrated on the back by the butterfly and a view of the Locarno Film Festival. The value in figures “20” is printed in red on the left at the bottom of the front and on the top left on the back. The SNB’s translation texts are printed in blue-green horizontally on the front and vertically on the back and in four languages: Romansh, French, German and Italian.
The banknote contains five new special security features: by tilting the bill, a golden bow moves across the globe and red and green numbers appear on four lines in the reflective strip below the globe. Looking at the note in the light, a triangle, and the security thread are perfectly visible, as well as the Swiss cross at the top left which is transformed into a Swiss flag. Finally, by passing the finger on the value and the texts of the SNB, one can feel a slight relief.
50 Franc
Front and back: Multicolored print predominantly green. The main themes of the note are wind and adventure. The wind is represented on the front by a hand holding a dandelion flower and the arrows indicating currents on the globe. The two themes are illustrated on the back by paragliding and the mountain in the background. The numerical value “50” is printed in green on the left at the bottom of the front and on the top left on the back. The SNB’s translation texts are printed in red on the front and vertical on the back and in four languages: Romansh, French, German, and Italian.
The banknote contains five new special security features: by tilting the bill, a golden bow moves across the globe and red and green numbers appear on four lines in the reflective strip below the globe. Looking at the note in the light, a triangle and the security thread are perfectly visible, as well as the Swiss cross at the top left which is transformed into a Swiss flag. Finally, by passing the finger on the value and the texts of the SNB, one can feel a slight relief.
100 Franc
Front and back: Multicolored print predominantly blue. The main themes of the note are water and the humanitarian tradition. On the front, two hands draw water and the globe is surrounded by isobars. The numerical value “100” is printed in blue on the left at the bottom of the front and on the top left on the back. The SNB’s translation texts are printed in yellow on the front and vertical on the back and in four languages: Romansh, French, German and Italian.
The banknote contains five new special security features: by tilting the bill, a golden bow moves across the globe and red and green numbers appear on four lines in the reflective strip below the globe. Looking at the note in the light, a triangle and the security thread are perfectly visible, as well as the Swiss cross at the top left which is transformed into a Swiss flag. Finally, by passing the finger on the value and the texts of the SNB, one can feel a slight relief.
200 Franc
Front and back: Multicolored print predominantly brown. The main themes of the post are the subject matter and the scientific vocation. On the front, the fingers of the hand represent the three axes of coordinates within the background, an illustration of the big bang. On the globe, we distinguish the distribution of land masses. The value in figures “200” is printed in brown on the left at the bottom of the front and on the top left on the back. The SNB’s translation texts are printed in green on the front and vertical on the back and in four languages: Romansh, French, German and Italian.
The banknote contains five new special security features: by tilting the bill, a golden bow moves across the globe and red and green numbers appear on four lines in the reflective strip below the globe. Looking at the note in the light, a triangle and the security thread are perfectly visible, as well as the Swiss cross at the top left which is transformed into a Swiss flag. Finally, by passing the finger on the value and the texts of the SNB, one can feel a slight relief.
1000 Franc
Front and back: Multicolored purple print. The main themes of the note are speech and the taste of communication. On the front, a handshake evokes human communication and on the surface of the globe we can see phonetic signs. The value in figures “1000” is printed in purple on the left at the bottom of the front and on the top left on the back. The SNB’s translation texts are printed in yellow on the front and vertical on the back and in four languages: Romansh, French, German and Italian.
The banknote contains five new special security features: by tilting the bill, a golden bow moves across the globe and red and green numbers appear on four lines in the reflective strip below the globe. Looking at the note in the light, a triangle and the security thread are perfectly visible, as well as the Swiss cross at the top left which is transformed into a Swiss flag. Finally, by passing the finger on the value and the texts of the SNB, one can feel a slight relief