Two new special coins: “Friedrich Dürrenmatt” and “Fox”
Federal Mint Swissmint launches commemorative coinage of a well-known German-language writer and the third item in the “Swiss Forest Animals” series
The Federal Mint Swissmint is launching two new commemorative coins for collectors and enthusiasts on January 21, 2021.
A silver coin celebrates Friedrich Dürrenmatt, one of the most successful German-language writers, who would have celebrated his centenary this year, while the bimetallic “Fox” coin concludes the three-coin series dedicated to “Swiss Forest Animals.”
A great writer with a face value of 20 francs
The playwright, storyteller, essayist, draughtsman and painter Friedrich Dürrenmatt was born on 5 January 1921 in Konolfingen in the canton of Berne and died on 14 December 1990 in Neuchâtel.
From 1941 he studied literature, philosophy and natural sciences in Bern. During this period he writes his first literary texts, as well as producing pen drawings and paintings. In 1946 he abandoned his studies and decided to become a writer.
The Bernese author became famous for his plays “The Visit of the Old Lady” and “The Physicists” as well as the crime novels “The Judge and His Executioner” and “The Promise”.
Athenian democracy? It lives again between Glarus and Appenzell…
Switzerland and the “fantastic four” of direct democracy
The ethics of competitiveness and the spirit of federalism
Waldstätte and the “forest” cantons at the dawn of Switzerland…
His works, which have been translated into more than 40 languages and won numerous awards, have made Dürrenmatt one of the most successful German-language writers in the world.
Less well known is the collection of his figurative works, which today is kept at the “Centre Dürrenmatt” in Neuchâtel.
With the issue of the 20-franc silver coin in honour of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s centenary, Swissmint is honouring a Swiss man who expressed his genius in art and literature.
10 CHF for the latest “Swiss Forest Animal”.
The saying “cunning as a fox” has deep roots: many fables and fairy tales describe this sharp-snouted predator as a clever and skillful animal.
The fox is found almost everywhere, whether in warm North Africa or cold Siberia. It knows exactly the best way to find food in difficult conditions.
The Presidency of the Swiss Confederation from 1848 to the present day
Swiss monuments? A “hidden” treasure to be exploited…
Schwyz and Glarus, Lost Semicantons of Swiss History
Swiss Districts? Still children of a minor federalism
After the roe deer and the hare, the fox is the third and last subject of the series of three coins dedicated to “Swiss Forest Animals”.
The figure on the 10-franc bimetallic coin is the work of graphic artist and designer Naomi Andrea Giewald from eastern Switzerland. The head of a fox appears in the center and its fingerprints are engraved on the outer ring.
Towards new series of circulating coins from Swissmint
In January 2021, Swissmint will also issue the new Swiss circulating coin series in their different variants.
In a coin 50 years of women’s suffrage in Switzerland
In addition to the always popular Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof versions, the bimetallic coin “Fox” completes the offer with the coin series “Birthday” and the very popular series “Baby”.
