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5 Francs European Year of Music
| Issuer | Swiss Federal Mint (Swissmint) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Obverse description | The obverse presents a bold, modernist graphic design divided diagonally into two contrasting fields: a highly polished mirror-like left field and a darker, textured right field. The large numeral '5' appears prominently in the lower centre, accompanied by the denomination indicator 'FR' to its right. The legend 'CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA', denoting the Swiss Confederation, is inscribed vertically along the right margin in bold capital letters. The stark geometric composition, devoid of figurative imagery, reflects the contemporary design aesthetic favoured by the Swiss Federal Mint during this period. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | 1985 - - 1,156,000 1985 - Proof - 84,000 |
| Additional information |
The Council of Europe designated 1985 as the European Year of Music, marking the tercentenary of Bach, Handel, and Scarlatti — all three born in the same year, 1685. Switzerland, not an EC member, nonetheless participated through the Council of Europe framework, and Swissmint issued this piece as part of a coordinated commemorative program that saw similar releases across multiple European states.
The copper-nickel alloy used here is the same bimetallic-adjacent composition Swissmint had standardized for circulating 5-franc pieces since 1968, keeping production costs aligned with the regular series despite the commemorative status.