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

Silver coins

The following silver coins were withdrawn from circulation on 1 April 1971. The SNB continues to exchange them at full nominal 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The 5-franc pieces with sunk relief type around the edges were withdrawn from circulation on 1 January 2004. The SNB continues to exchange them at full nominal 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The 20-centime coins in pure nickel were withdrawn from circulation as per 1 January 2004.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 SNB continues to exchange them at full nominal 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The 10-centime coins in pure nickel were withdrawn from circulation as per 1 January 2004.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 SNB continues to exchange them at full nominal 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 in the years 1932-1939 and 1941 and those minted in copper-nickel in 1879-1931, 1940 and 1942-1980 were legal tender until 31 December 1983; they were withdrawn from circulation on 1 January 1984. The SNB continues to exchange them at full nominal value.

2-centime coins

The 2-centime coins minted between 1948 and 1974 were withdrawn from circulation on 1 January 1978. They were exchanged by the Swiss Federal Cash Office (Eidgenössische Staatskasse) at their nominal value until 30 June 1979.

Although worthless, the 2-centime coins may still 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 withdrawn from circulation on 1 January 2007. They will be exchanged at their nominal value by the SNB until 31 December 2026.

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

Information about these coins is available on the Swissmint website.

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

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.

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: