It was a time when Switzerland first began to conquer the skies and capture the public’s imagination. There is a commonly held national assertion that aviation in Switzerland began with pioneering balloonists at the end of the 19th century. As such, in 1897, the Federal Council decided to set up a Swiss airship company, ten years after military airships had become established in Europe. Before that, pioneers like Eduard Spelterini (1852 – 1931) and the Piccard brothers had made the first balloon test flights for the Swiss army and went through training as balloon pilots in 1915. A governmental initiative rather than a private company in the sense of the Zeppelin Company, its purpose was to develop and utilise airships for military purposes. With the outbreak of the First World War and the development of modern airplanes and air forces, the advance of airborne troops and the larger range of artillery fire rendered the clearly visible and sluggish balloons increasingly more redundant. As a result, the importance of balloons waned and by 1937 the balloon corps was dissolved.
The obverse shows hot-air balloons with different shapes and baskets, tracing the technical developments of the time. But these illustrations show not only technological advances, but also the passion of early Swiss aviation pioneers. The balloons rise into the air against the backdrop of the Saanenland and the Swiss mountains Gummfluh, La Videmanette and Rüeblihorn. The obverse also carries the inscription in German Pioniere der Schweizer Luftfahrt. The reverse side depicts a stylised propeller blade in motion centred and which references advances in technology up to the present day. The inscription CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA 2025 is placed along the rim. The nominal value of 20 FR is shown below the primary design and the letter B representing the Bern Mint is placed just after the year. The coins include the raised edge inscription in Latin DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT (The Lord will provide) along with thirteen five-pointed stars.
Available from the 18th September, the BU coin is available encapsulated – The proof quality commemorative coins are encapsulated and now presented in new, elegant and modern cases. The custom cases are designed as narrower and more practical, providing optimal presentation while also making them easier to store. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Swiss Mint / Special Coins.