If a vending machine refuses to accept your 0.50chf, 1chf, 2chf or 5chf coin, don't smash the machine. Instead take a look the coin. Good chances are its made of silver.

If it is dated 1967 or earlier, then bingo, its real Ag. Not worth much, but worth collecting. Coin counting machines, which reject silver coins, are slowly weeding them out of circulation.

The exception is 1969 5chf coins, which can also be silver. For some reason after whacking out a shitload of copper-nickel "Fünflebers" in 1968 (common as dogturds), they went back to silver for one more year.

Just yesterday I was wondering why a parking meter would not accept my 0.50chf coin when it says it should. Looked at it and it was 1934.

More info: http://www.zumbo.ch/coins/list.html

Interesting. I must say that I find Swiss coins are quite logically ordered with respect to size denominating value. The only thing that drives me nuts is 1/2 franc coin - why does it have to be so small and almost the same size as the 10 and 20? And they should drop the 5 from circulation as well - it's totally useless. Adding some graphical designs to the Swiss coins might have also made them a little more exciting..

They kind of went the opposite way with the 20 and the 50 as the Aussies did - I always found the Australian 20 and 50 cent coins ridiculously large!

I would say the 0.50chf was made so small to avoid the metal value (Ag)being more than the face value!

I was saving 0.05chf coins for the Complaints section. But now you mention it you are right. Completely useless. They are not accepted by vending machines (except Stamp machines???) , put two together and they breed like rabbits, they end up everywhere except that you never seem to be able to find one when you really need one.

As for australian coins, yeah, they are ridiculously big. But I remember as a kid at school, a 20c piece would get you a can of coke.

5 rappen coins are most excellent for laying on tram tracks and squishing

I often wondered who was responsible for that.

Kewl, you've given a new fun idea to another manchild

While the coins are logically sized it takes a while for one to quickly and accurately know the difference between the 10r and 20r pieces...and the SFr.1 and SFr.2 coins. I like how British coins vary wildly in color, size and shape.

Swiss notes rock.

a) logical one dimentional size and color differences,
b) largest note is SFr.1000.

(I once withdrew £4000 in cash in the UK. Since the largest note is £50, and so uncommon that half was given to me in £20 notes, the entire sum was 2" thick! I felt like a drug dealer. The same amount in Swissies is only nine or ten bills.)

Silver coins, when i worked in a busy tourist restaurant years ago i used to love it when coach loads of europeans landed. They'd use all their old coins from the first time they were here years earlier. It got to the stage when i knew just by the sound of a coin hitting others wether it was silver or not.
Oldhand

Just some interesting points to this thread.

The majority of machines will actually accept silver coins without any problems and unless you get a "lucky" year their value is as on the face. Silver is also not being withdrawn from circulation. However...

Take a look at your 5 franc coins. Normally there is a few stars and Dominus Providebit sticking out an the edge. The SNB decided in the 80's to change this to be inwards ie the letters and stars are engraved in the side. These coins are no longer valid legal tender - not that most people will notice and until the end of this year can be exchanged at face value at banks. If you have one they are becoming scarcer and the value is increasing. So hold onto these.

Ending in 1939 the Swiss produced nickel coins for the 5rp, 10rp and 20rp which are almost always thrown out of machines as they are magnetic. These are also not legal tender. but are rather collectable.

The 2Franc coin has not changed in design since 1879. If you are very lucky you might find an 1896 or 1901 in which case keep if very carefully and drop me a mail.

For the 5Fr hope you get a 1952 as that will return something like 30 Francs more if in good condition. In 1991 and 1993 the 5Fr was not produced apart from in coin sets and the rarity value then puts these in the 100 Franc region...

As to the zumbo list you need to read what it refers to. This is the prices dealers charged for the coins in the condition stated which actually means you will get around 25% of this if you try and sell it. As the rarity increases so do the percentages so you can actually get 100% and more if you happen to get the right coin which is about as likely as winning the lottery.

Any questions about Swiss coins post 1850 I will gladly answer including given you realistic valuations and making/getting you an offer if you want to sell a collection!

Got a dull grubby 20 rappen coin back in my change at lunchtime. I just checked out the date............. 1883

Years and years ago, a friend's brother used to do a milk run back in New Zealand.

Among the handful of halfpennies in one of the milk bottles left on someone's doorstep, he found a sovereign...

I've found the 1883 20 Rp. offered online in the second worst condition for 2 Fr., but for 155 Fr. in mint state – You should contact Richard now.:o)

Oooh, this one must be worth -50 at least then

Just like the fact that they are still out there after 125 years, and how much purchasing power it would have had back when minted.

We all would probably look dull and grubby after 125 years in and out of people's pockets (horrible thought)! Wonder what 20 centimes would buy back in 1883.

Morning All,

Back over in sunny St Louis.....however I used to just save the coins and buy my lotto tickets with them..bloke at kiosk semed happy for the change.

the date on this one is not quite legible but it is silver and probably worth more than its "face" value.

pop in a glass of coke (beverage) & then phone Richard.

The date is 1860. It is worthless as a coin for collectors but as a work of art is as you say probably worth more than CHF 2.

That broach is very smart.

[gets dremel out of case and hunts for coins...]

i collect oddities. somewhere i have a 2 lire note which was inside one of the books in a box i bought in a bodmin aucton once.