250 Francs Matterhorn

Swissmint's largest gold issue in modern production, this kilogram piece belongs to a prestige format the mint has used sparingly for landmark subjects. Switzerland demonetized most of its large gold coinage in the late twentieth century, but the commemorative framework under the Federal Mint Ordinance allows issues like this one to carry nominal face value while functioning entirely as bullion collectibles. The 250-franc denomination is essentially ceremonial — no purchasing power, all store of value.

The Matterhorn itself straddled a bitter surveying dispute between Swiss and Italian cartographers well into the 1860s, each side claiming the summit lay within its territory. Whymper's first ascent in 1865 killed four of his seven-man party on the descent.