2020 last swiss numismatic issues – Gold for R. FEDERER

In the beginning of the month of september, Swiss mint presented to the public its last numismatic issues for year 2020. A gold coin complet the coin series honoring R. FEDERER. Another coin celebrates the swiss firefighters. The two last coins are dedicated to Suxten Pass and Ceneri tunnel.

150 years of the Swiss Firefighters

Association commemorative coin

The Swiss Firefighters Association represents the interests of both part-time and professional firefighters in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. The idea of founding the association was first mooted in 1869 in Herisau in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. It was established in Aarau in 1870 as what was then still a club. The Swiss Firefighters Association is therefore celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2020. Today, supporting the interests of firefighters and exchanging knowledge are still important aims of the association. Furthermore, the Swiss Firefighters Association is a modern and innovative service company that works in a performance and results-oriented manner. It supports the cantonal associations, brings together the language regions of Switzerland and is politically neutral. Finally, the association serves as a link to the national partners in civil protection and is active internationally.

In all these activities, the Swiss Firefighters Association aims to support the fire departments in creating the best possible conditions and to help motivate young people to join them. Recruitment of firefighters is also becoming increasingly difficult as fewer and fewer people are signing up for voluntary and part-time work. This is especially the case when such work involves responsibility or is unpaid or remuneration is very low. Yet, voluntary and part-time work is part of the basis of our direct democracy.

Benjamin Löbbert  engraved the coin.

Coin specifications

Engraver: Benjamin Löbbert
Material: Silver – 835/1000
Weight: 20g
Diameter: 33 mm
Face value:  20 swiss francs
Mintages: BU – 20 000 coins, including 1 000 coins in  folders/ Proof : 5 000 coins
Mint: Swiss Mint

2020 Susten Pass commemorative coin

As far back as the Middle Ages, there has been a trade route over the Susten Pass. However, apart from periods when neighbouring passes were closed, it was always less important as a north-south trade route than the Brünig-Grimsel-Gries/Albrun to the west and the Gotthard to the east.

But during the religious conflict between the protestant and catholic parts of Switzerland, the Susten Pass acquired a degree of military importance.

The old bridle path was first converted into a navigable road in 1811. Before the Second World War, the army demanded the construction of a modern route between the cantons of Bern and Uri for strategic reasons. But there were other reasons too, such as encouraging tourism and promoting economic development in this mountainous region.

The current pass road is 45km long and connects Wassen in Uri’s Meiental with Meiringen in the Haslital of the canton of Bern. Construction took place between 1938 and 1946.

The aim was to involve as much manual labour as possible and to blend the construction into the landscape, which is why all the retaining walls were clad in natural stone.

Unlike the old Susten Pass road, the new road passes underneath the top of the pass (2,259 metres above sea level) in a summit tunnel 2,224 metres above sea level.

The Susten Pass is open from around mid-June to mid-October each year and whoever travels along its numerous bridges and tunnels will be able to enjoy a superb mountain landscape.

Coin specifications

Engraver: Vito Noto
Material: Silver – 835/1000
Weight: 20g
Diameter: 33mm
Face value: 20 swiss francs
Tirages: 20 000 BU coins including 1 000 coins in folder/ 5 000 proof coins
Mint: Swissmint

Ceneri base tunnel

“the project of the century” commemorative coin

The Ceneri base tunnel is 15.4 kilometres long and is the third-largest New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) construction project after the Lötschberg and Gotthard base tunnels. Its portals are located to the north near Bellinzona and to the south in Vezia near Lugano.

Like the Gotthard base tunnel, it consists of two single-track bores roughly 40 metres apart, connected by cross-passages set at 325 metre intervals (48 in total). 2.5 kilometres in front of the southern portal in Vezia is the Sarè underground junction, which will permit the tunnel’s future extension southwards.

For planning and financial reasons, construction of this extension has been scheduled for 2030. To connect the Ceneri base tunnel to the existing rail network, various structures have been built at the Camorino intersection at the tunnel’s north portal.

At the request of the canton of Ticino, the so-called “Bretella” – a new direct rail link between Locarno and Lugano – has been built. For Ticino, the Ceneri base tunnel thus represents a quantum leap for public transport, thanks to considerably reduced journey times. Effective construction costs amount to around CHF 3.6 billion.

The Ceneri base tunnel will operate at a daily capacity of 170 freight and 180 passenger trains , with the latter reaching speeds of 200km an hour in the tunnel (according to the timetable). After 12 years under construction, the Ceneri base tunnel will go into operation in December 2020.

Coin specifications

Engraver:  R. Mascherini
Material: Silver – 835/1000
Weight: 20g
Diameter: 33mm
Face value: 20 swiss francs
Tirages: 7 500 coins in proof condition
Mint: Swissmint

Gold 50 francs Roger Federer

holding his 2009 Wimbledon trophy

Roger Federer’s debut on the ATP tennis tour was in July 1998 in Gstaad. In only his third season as a professional, he won his first tournament final in Milan in 2001. And just two years later (2003), at the tender age of 21, he won Wimbledon, his first ever Grand Slam title.

His opponent in the final, Mark Philippoussis, took him to a tie-break twice, but eventually had to concede defeat, and Roger Federer was able to celebrate his first great sporting success. At the Wimbledon Championships alone, he has bagged a further seven titles, the last in 2017 at the age of 35 and five years after his previous Grand Slam victory. He is one of the few players to have won all four Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open) at least once.

To date, Roger Federer has headed the world rankings for the longest, with a total of 310 weeks at the top, including a record-breaking run of 237 consecutive weeks. He is also the oldest player to have topped the list.

As well being a superb tennis player and sportsman, Roger Federer is a family man, Switzerland fan, collector and tourist in his home country.

Coin specifications

Engraver: Remo Mascherini
Material: gold – 900/1000
Weight: 11,29 g
Diameter: 25 mm
Face value: 50 swiss francs
Mintage: 10 000 coins in proof condition

Sources: Swiss Mint and NUMISMAG.