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Counterfeit money
Counterfeit coins – a problem?
Are counterfeit coins still an issue today? Is it even worthwhile, let alone lucrative, attempting to counterfeit coins? Despite the fact that producing counterfeit coins is a far more complicated and costly procedure than forging paper money, counterfeit coins still turn up in circulation to this day. To be precise, this crime does pay, provided that a large enough number of counterfeit coins can be put into circulation. In order to avoid detection, counterfeiters are keenly interested in producing fakes that look as genuine as possible. Astonishingly enough, blatant and crude imitations nevertheless continue to crop up. However, once the telltale marks of the counterfeiter's trade are made known to the public, these coins are generally hard to get rid of.
In the 1990's, an insidious imitation of the Swiss 5-franc coin was the source of considerable alarm to Swissmint. The situation calmed down after the counterfeit ring's workshop in Italy was raided by the police. It must be borne in mind, however, that technical advancements in manufacturing minting dies, paired with a reduction or absence of official border controls – which itself has resulted in the mounting incidence of crime on an international scale – in conjunction with the prevalence of organised crime syndicates all imply an increasing danger of our country being inundated with counterfeit coins. The best countermeasure is to be on the alert and ready to take quick action should the necessity arise.
Be particularly wary of collector's items
High-quality counterfeits of rare and costly collector's coins have more and more frequently surfaced during the past few years. An expert's report can be commissioned at Swissmint in cases of doubtful authenticity regarding Swiss coins minted as of the year 1850.
Please note that:
- Forged banknotes and coins are withdrawn from circulation without face-value replacement;
- Counterfeited collector's coins are demonetised and devaluated. A court of law decides on the subsequent use of these items.
Federal experts on counterfeit money
Dubious coins and banknotes can be submitted to the following governmental offices for evaluation:
Coins and banknotes
Federal Office of Police, Federal Criminal Police, Counterfeit Currency Investigations,
CH-3003 Berne Tel. +41 (0)31 324 13 87
zur Webseite
Swiss coins minted as of 1850
Swissmint, Bernastrasse 28, CH-3003 Berne
Tel. +41 (0)31 322 61 73
Foreign coins
Central Controlling Office for Precious Metals, Monbijoustrasse 40, CH-3003 Berne
Tel. +41 (0)31 322 66 34
Leaflets on counterfeit money available only in German and French
5 Fr., Jahrgänge 1986, 1987, 1989 und 1991. Download DeutschDownload Français
2 Fr., Jahrgänge 1979 und 1988. Download DeutschDownload Français
20 Fr., Jahrgang 1888. Download DeutschDownload Français