Swiss franc

Categories: European currencies | Economy of Switzerland

Franc
Image:10CHF 20CHF.jpg
Country:Switzerland, Liechtenstein
Made up of:100 centimes
ISO-4217-Code:CHF
Shortcut:Fr., SFr.
Exchange rate:
(July 2005)		€1 = 1.56 CHF
US$1 = 1.29 CHF

The Swiss franc (ISO 4217: CHF or 756), CHF standing for the Confœderatio Helvetica franc, is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is issued by the central bank of Switzerland, the Swiss National Bank.

The Swiss franc is the only currency named franc still issued in Europe. Its name in the four official languages of Switzerland: Franken (German), franc (French and Rhaeto-Romanic), and franco (Italian). The smaller denomination, which is worth a hundredth of a franc, is called Rappen in German, centime in French, centesimo in Italian and rap in Rhaeto-Romanic. The French names are used in English.

As of January 1, 2005, the Swiss franc was worth US$ 0.858101 or € 0.646289. Since mid-2003, it has been kept relatively stable to the Euro at a value of about 1.55 CHF per Euro, and so rises and falls against the U.S. dollar in tandem with the Euro. Despite the currency trading in the range of 80 to 90 U.S. cents, it has surprisingly little purchasing power: items tend to cost about twice as much in Switzerland as what they would in the United States (or Canada, whose dollar is worth about the same as the Swiss currency). This is due to the currency's wide usage as a reserve currency by entities throughout the world.

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Coins

Image:1francosvizzero1983front.jpg
1 Swiss franc 1983 obverse
Image:1francosvizzero1983back.jpg
1 Swiss franc 1983 reverse

Coins in circulation are:

  • 1 centime (de facto no longer in circulation, but still available)
  • 2 centimes (no longer in use)
  • 5 centimes (a debate on its use will be held in 2007, because the production cost is higher than the value)
  • 10 centimes
  • 20 centimes
  • 1/2 franc (50 centimes)
  • 1 franc
  • 2 francs
  • 5 francs
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Banknotes

Image:Switzerland1000francs1996.jpg
One thousand swiss francs
Image:50 CHF.jpg
50 swiss francs

The current (8th, 1995) series of banknotes designed by Jörg Zintzmeyer depict:

The previous series (6th, 1976) designed by Ernst and Ursula Hiestand depicted:

The sixth series has been recalled and replaced. The seventh series was printed but never issued and it is apparently illegal to publish pictures of the 7th series banknotes.


Series Introduction Valueless since Designer Remark
1st series 1907 1945 Josef Storck, Albert Walch Changeover notes
2nd Series 1911 1980 Eugène Burnand, Ferdinand Hodler, S. Balzer Recalled on 1 October 1958
3rd Series 1918 1930 Orell Füssli War notes
4th series 1938 - Victor Surbeck und Hans Erni Reserve series, never issued
5th series 1956 2000 Pierre Gauchat, Hermann Eidenbenz Recalled 1980
6th series 1976 April 2020 Ernst & Ursula Hiestand Recalled on May 1, 2000
7th Series - Elisabeth & Roger Pfund Reserve series
8th Series 1995 Jörg Zintzmeyer current


See franc for other currencies with the same name.

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External links


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de:Schweizer Franken

el:Ελβετικό Φράγκο als:Schweizer Franken es:Franco suizo fr:Franc suisse hr:Švicarski franak it:Franco svizzero nl:Zwitserse frank ja:スイス・フラン no:Sveitsisk franc pl:Frank szwajcarski pt:Franco suíço sk:Švajčiarsky frank sl:Švicarski frank sv:Schweizisk franc zh:瑞士法郎