History

The country's name is on all the coins as "Confoederatio Helvetica", the Latin name of the Swiss Confederation, or "Helvetia" specified. The oldest coins are still valid today; the 10-centime coins dating back to 1879. They are therefore among the oldest still valid coins worldwide. To date, they have the same design and the same alloy (copper, nickel). Until 1967, the circulating coins with face values of 1/2 franc to 5 francs were of silver alloy. These were withdrawn because the price of silver alloy exceeded the face value.

Circulation

Since 2004, moreover, the existing pure nickel 20-centime coins of the years 1881-1938 have been withdrawn from circulation because machines can not detect them. Today, all the coins except the 5-centime coin (aluminum bronze) are in copper nickel alloy.

7 coins are currently in circulation:

Image	Value	Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse
	5 cents	17.15 mm	1.25 mm	1.8 g	92% Cu, 6% Al, 2% Ni	Plain	Libertas Libertas Libertas was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.- Temples and derived inspirations :In 238 BC, before the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status...  head (often misinterpreted as Helvetia)	Value
	10 cents	19.15 mm	1.45 mm	3 g	75 % Cu, 25 % Ni	Plain	Libertas Libertas Libertas was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.- Temples and derived inspirations :In 238 BC, before the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status...  head (often misinterpreted as Helvetia)	Value
	20 cents	21.05 mm	1.65 mm	4 g	75 % Cu, 25 % Ni	Plain	Libertas Libertas Libertas was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.- Temples and derived inspirations :In 238 BC, before the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status...  head (often misinterpreted as Helvetia)	Value
	50 cents	18.20 mm	1.25 mm	2.2 g	75 % Cu, 25 % Ni	Milled	Standing Helvetia Helvetia Helvetia is the female national personification of Switzerland, officially Confœderatio Helvetica, the "Helvetic Confederation".The allegory is typically pictured in a flowing gown, with a spear and a shield emblazoned with the Swiss flag, and commonly with braided hair, commonly with a wreath as...	Value
	1 Franc	23.20 mm	1.55 mm	4.4 g	75 % Cu, 25 % Ni	Milled	Standing Helvetia Helvetia Helvetia is the female national personification of Switzerland, officially Confœderatio Helvetica, the "Helvetic Confederation".The allegory is typically pictured in a flowing gown, with a spear and a shield emblazoned with the Swiss flag, and commonly with braided hair, commonly with a wreath as...	Value
	2 Franc	27.40 mm	2.15 mm	8.8 g	75 % Cu, 25 % Ni	Milled	Standing Helvetia Helvetia Helvetia is the female national personification of Switzerland, officially Confœderatio Helvetica, the "Helvetic Confederation".The allegory is typically pictured in a flowing gown, with a spear and a shield emblazoned with the Swiss flag, and commonly with braided hair, commonly with a wreath as...	Value
	5 Franc	31.45 mm	2.35 mm	13.2 g	75 % Cu, 25 % Ni	Inscribed	Alpine herdsman (often misinterpreted as William Tell William Tell William Tell is a folk hero of Switzerland. His legend is recorded in a late 15th century Swiss chronicle.... )	Value