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Coins

  • Coins currently in circulation

    5 francs
    5 francs

    Alloy: copper 75% / nickel 25%
    Diameter: 31.45 mm
    Weight: 13.2 g
    Thickness: 2.35 mm
    Coin edge: lettered "DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT" + 13 stars

    2 francs
    2 francs

    Alloy: copper 75% / nickel 25%
    Diameter: 27.40 mm
    Weight: 8.80 g
    Thickness: 2.15 mm
    Coin edge: Milled

    1 franc
    1 franc

    Alloy: copper 75% / nickel 25%
    Diameter: 23.20 mm
    Weight: 4.40 g
    Thickness: 1.55 mm
    Coin edge: Milled

    1/2 franc
    1/2 franc

    Alloy: copper 75% / nickel 25%
    Diameter: 18.20 mm
    Weight: 2.20 g
    Thickness: 1.25 mm
    Coin edge: Milled

    20 centimes
    20 centimes

    Alloy: copper 75% / nickel 25%
    Diameter: 21.05 mm
    Weight: 4.00 g
    Thickness: 1.65 mm
    Coin edge: Smooth

    10 centimes
    10 centimes

    Alloy: copper 75% / nickel 25%
    Diameter: 19.15 mm
    Weight: 3.00 g
    Thickness: 1.45 mm
    Coin edge: Smooth

    5 centimes
    5 centimes

    Alloy: copper 92% / aluminium 6% / nickel 2%
    Diameter: 17.15 mm
    Weight: 1.80 g
    Thickness: 1.25 mm
    Coin edge: Smooth

    The number of coins minted can be viewed on the Swissmint website (www.swissmint.ch).

  • Coinage

    Coinage is the responsibility of the Swiss Confederation, on whose behalf Swissmint (www.swissmint.ch), the official federal mint located in Berne, mints the coins. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is entrusted by the Confederation with putting the coins into circulation via its network of bank offices.

  • Exchange of coins

    Silver coins

    As per 1 April 1971, the following silver coins were withdrawn from circulation. The Swiss National Bank continues to exchange them at face value.

    • 5-franc coins (including commemorative coins) minted between 1931 and 1967 and in 1969
    • 2-franc coins minted between 1874 and 1967
    • 1-franc coins minted between 1875 and 1967
    • 1/2-franc coins minted between 1875 and 1967

    5-franc coins

    The 5-franc coins of the years 1985 to 1993 were minted with sunk relief type around the edges. In 1994, in reaction to a rise in counterfeits, it was decided to replace all 5-franc coins with sunk relief type around the edges by regular relief type.

    The 5-franc coins with sunk relief type around the edges were recalled as per 1 January 2004. The Swiss National Bank continues to exchange them at face value.

    20-centime coins

    The 20-centime coins of the years 1881 to 1938 were minted in pure nickel. Since present-day coins have a different alloy, pure nickel coins are not accepted by vending machines.

    The 20-centime coins in pure nickel were withdrawn from circulation as per 1 January 2004. The Swiss National Bank continues to exchange them at face value.

    10-centime coins

    The 10-centime coins of the years 1932 to 1939 were minted in pure nickel. Since present-day coins have a different alloy, pure nickel coins are not accepted by vending machines.

    The 10-centime coins in pure nickel were withdrawn from circulation as per 1 January 2004. The Swiss National Bank continues to exchange them at face value.

    5-centime coins

    The (gold-coloured) 5-centime coins struck in an aluminium-bronze alloy were put in circulation as from 1 June 1981.

    The 5-centime coins minted in pure nickel from 1932 to 1939 and in 1941 and those minted in copper-nickel from 1879 to 1931, in 1940 and from 1942 to 1980 were legal tender until 31 December 1983; as per 1 January 1984 they were withdrawn from circulation. The Swiss National Bank continues to exchange them at face value.

    2-centime coins

    The 2-centime coins minted between 1948 and 1974 were recalled as per 1 January 1978. Until 30 June 1979 the Swiss Federal Cash Office (Eidgenössische Staatskasse) exchanged them at face value.

    The worthless 2-centime coins might possibly have collector's value. Unlike numismatists, antique shops or banks, the SNB does not deal in worthless coins.

    1-centime coins

    The 1-centime coins were recalled as per 1 January 2007. They will be exchanged at their nominal value by the Swiss National Bank until 31 December 2026.

    The "Instruction sheet on exchanging damaged coins" contains a list of all our bank offices.

  • Commemorative and collector's coins / Annual coin set

    Information about these coins is available on the Swissmint website (www.swissmint.ch).

    Commemorative coins issued by the Swiss Confederation can be exchanged for face value at the SNB's cash offices or agencies (but not at the representative offices).

  • Damaged Coins

    According to art. 6 of the Coinage Ordinance, the Swiss National Bank replaces damaged coins. In the instruction sheet below, you will find explanations regarding the exchange of damaged coins.

  • Delivery and withdrawal provisions for holders of sight deposit accounts

    Based on the Federal Act on Currency and Payment Instruments (CPIA) , the following delivery and withdrawal provisions apply in transactions between sight deposit account holders and the Swiss National Bank: