Switzerland launched its commemorative 20-franc silver program in 1999 as a lower-cost alternative to the heavier 925-fine collector series, settling on .835 fineness — the same alloy used in Swiss circulation silver before decimalization — to keep retail prices accessible. The Geneva Motor Show issue marks the centenary of the Salon de l'Auto, which first opened in Geneva in 1905 and has since become one of the oldest continuously running automotive exhibitions in the world.
The .835 standard does make these coins mildly prone to toning at the fields over time.
Switzerland launched its commemorative 20-franc silver program in 1999 as a lower-cost alternative to the heavier 925-fine collector series, settling on .835 fineness — the same alloy used in Swiss circulation silver before decimalization — to keep retail prices accessible. The Geneva Motor Show issue marks the centenary of the Salon de l'Auto, which first opened in Geneva in 1905 and has since become one of the oldest continuously running automotive exhibitions in the world.
The .835 standard does make these coins mildly prone to toning at the fields over time.