The Swiss National Bank (SNB) recently issued its new 20-franc note, which is the second of six denominations to be released as part of the bank’s new banknote series.
This latest 20-franc note entered circulation on May 17. The first banknote of the new series—a 50-franc note—recently won the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Bank Note of the Year Award. While the new series is being phased in until 2019, the current (eighth) series will remain legal tender until further notice.
“More than 20 years have passed since the last banknote series was issued, and during this time, the world has undergone a technological quantum leap. A new series is therefore required in order to maintain our high security standards and protect the public against counterfeits,” reads the SNB website. “The new series equips Switzerland with banknotes that are both more modern and more secure than the previous generation.”
In celebration of “the many facets of Switzerland,” each denomination in the new series depicts an illustrated symbol. The 20-franc note honours Switzerland’s creativity, which is expressed with a motif of light.
The series’ next denomination—a 10-franc note—will be issued on Oct. 18.