The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has unveiled the new 50 franc banknote, the first of the banknotes from the long awaited ninth series.
The design focuses on the element of wind.
The note, which is 70mm by 137mm, is made using Landqart’s Durasafe® substrate composed of a central transparent polymer layer between two cotton paper layers providing increased durability and the possibility of incorporating new polymer based security features as well as other traditional paper based security features.
The new banknote includes many security features, including a two coloured KINEGRAM VOLUME® foil stripe – an optically variable security feature by Kurz and OVD Kinegram.
Other features include:
- MICROPERF®, where the substrate is finely perforated resulting in an image of the Swiss cross becoming visible when the note is held to the light.
- tactile elements for the visually impaired to assist in identifying the note’s denomination
- watermarks
- see through feature
- optically variable colour changing ink
- raised intaglio print
- infrared features
- ultraviolet features
It has been more than 20 years since the last series of banknotes was issued. Originally, the ninth banknote series was expected to begin circulating in 2010 but this has been delayed until now due to major delays in the design and manufacturing process.
The new 50-franc banknote will begin circulating on 12 April 2016.
Watch the ninth banknote series educational video from the SNB
Watch the banknotes being created in this video from the Swiss National Bank.
