Swiss Bank Note Contest Winner

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In March the Swiss National Bank (SNB) unveiled the winner of the design competition for its new bank notes, following a public vote last fall. Based on the theme “Switzerland and its altitudes,” the bills will be designed by Emphase Ltd. and will prominently feature some of Switzerland’s most famous landscapes. Anticipated to be issued in the early 2030s, the new series will include a 10-, 20-, 50-, 100-, 200-, and 1,000-franc note. The latter is equivalent to about US$1,280 and is among the most valuable single bills in the world. 

Competition Winner

Emphase Ltd.’s submission for the design competition earned the best overall ratings in the multi-phase contest. The SNB is commissioning Emphase Ltd. with the graphic development of the new bank-note series. However, the final design may differ significantly from the concept submitted to the competition, as the Bank Council is ultimately responsible for deciding the notes’ designs. 

Emphase’s design features native plants on the front of each note, depicted to scale: an invitation to take a more conscious look at the familiar flora. On the back are well-recognized Swiss achievements. In addition, indigenous insects appear in the see-through register. The watermark contains prehistoric animals unearthed in Switzerland, while the security strip features geological strata. 

The Denominations

According to Emphase, “All of the denominations are visually interrelated and present a kind of cross-section of Switzerland and its many dimensions. The altitudinal elements engage with each other, plants spill over from one denomination to another, modes of transport link places together—a symbol: everything is interconnected.” Emphase describes the motifs for each note as follows:

Lowlands (10 franc)

The broadleaf plantain that provides food for insects and is a symbol of urban biodiversity grows unnoticed wherever people walk, including in metropolitan areas. A train, symbolizing mobility and interaction between regions; the CERN research center; and the rammed concrete structure known as Schaulager symbolize preservation and communication. 

Central Plateau (20 franc)

The protein-rich pea thrives in Switzerland’s vegetable gardens and its urban raised beds. The lively tradition of boating down the Aare, along with the NEST (Next Evolution in Sustainable Building Technologies) building, reflect human efforts to adapt to the natural world. 

Jura (50 franc)

True to scale, there is space for only a small section of the common beech tree, a symbol of stability, on the front of the note. On the back, the deciduous tree spreads its branches in full splendor, surrounded by a stone wall, the La Dôle measuring station, and regional architecture that embodies the traditional craftsmanship of artisan watchmakers. 

Alpine foothills (100 franc)

Yellow oatgrass—fodder grass and hay for livestock—grows in flowering meadows. The landscape is characterized by alpine farming and tourism and depicts an alpine cheese dairy with a shingle roof, hiking trails, and a cable car. 

Alps (200 franc)

Dense blueberry bushes provide habitat and food for small mammals and protect the soil from erosion. The practice of collecting wild plants is also part of Switzerland’s intangible cultural heritage. The Glacier Express and the dam also bear witness to technology in nature. 

High Alps (1,000 franc)

Hardly any flowering plant grows as high up as the glacier buttercup. Humans also show pioneering spirit on this note: researching in the Sphinx Observatory on the Jungfraujoch, alpine climbing in extreme regions, and building sustainably in a challenging environment at the Monte Rosa Hut.