January 26, 2010 – On January 21, 2010 the Federal Mint Swissmint has issued a silver coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the Bernina Line. A coin will also be issued to complete the „Swiss National Park“ series with the „Alpine Marmot“ as its subject.
Swissmint issued the coin „100 years of Bernina Railway“ to commemorate the railway line which is now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The commemorative coin was first presented to the public at the inaugural event of the anniversary year on 16th January. Kurt Rohrer, General Manager of Swissmint handed over one of the coins to Erwin Rutishauser, CEO of the Rhaetian Railway at the ceremony in Bernina-Diavolezza.
The commemorative coin „Bernina Railway“ is the third in the Mountain Railways series launched by Swissmint in 2008 and follows the coins commemorating the „Vitznau-Rigi Railway“ and the „Brienz-Rothorn Railway“. All three coins were designed by the artist Benno K. Zehnder and have a face value of 20 Swiss francs. The „Bernina Railway“ is available in „uncirculated“ quality and „proof“ quality, the latter in a presentation case.
„Swiss National Park“ series now complete: „Marmot“ commemorative coin
The marmot now joins the typical Alpine animals already commemorated: ibex, golden eagle and red deer. This is the last subject of the four-part commemorative coin series „Swiss National Park“ which Swissmint has been issuing since 2007. The new coin has been designed by the artist and scientific illustrator Niklaus Heeb.
All the subjects issued in this series going back to the ibex in 2007 are still available this year. So if you would like to collect the entire series, you now have the chance to complete your collection. The bimetallic coins have a face value of 10 Swiss francs.
Two qualities are available: „uncirculated“ and „proof“ in a presentation case. The current subject „Marmot“ also completes the Swiss circulation coins in the 2010 annual coin set.
Commemorative coins and current coin sets available with immediate effect
Swissmint will present the new products at the Basel Coin Fair (23. / 24.01.2010) and at the World Money Fair in Berlin (29. – 31.01.2010), where direct purchase is possible.
The coins are also available from coin dealers, banks and at www.swissmint.ch.
The Swiss confederation uses the proceeds from the sale of the coins, the minting profit, to support cultural projects throughout Switzerland.