Friday, 6 November 2020

1539) "Susten Pass", Switzerland: A 20 Franc Silver Coin issued by the Swissmint: Date of Coin issue: 03.09.2020:

1539) "Susten Pass", Switzerland: A 20 Franc Silver Coin issued by the Swissmint: Date of Coin issue: 03.09.2020:

On 03.09.2020, Swissmint, Switzerland has issued a 20 Franc Silver coin commemorating the "Susten Pass".

This issue concludes the three coin Series titled "Swiss Alpine Passes", which covered the "Klausen Pass" and the "Furka Pass" as its first two releases.

The Obverse and Reverse of the 20 Swiss Franc Silver Coin placed against a background of a road map and a motorcycle with a side car negotiating the curves on the mountain road

The Susten Pass:

Since the Middle Ages, a trade connection has led across the Susten. Except when neighbouring passes were temporarily closed, it was always less significant than the North-south trade route Brunig-Grimsel-Gries/Albrun in the West and the Gotthard in the East.

During the religious battles between the Reformed and the Catholic parts of the country, the Susten Pass had already acquired a certain military importance.

First documented in the 17th Century, the Susten Pass became an important pass-way through the Alps.

In 1811, the old mule track was expanded into the first drivable road. Because Napoleon appropriated the Simplon and Bernese Passes, a trade route to northern Italy was cut.

In 1818, a road expansion was carried out.

Before World War II, for strategic reasons, the army demanded the construction of a modern connection between the cantons of Bern and Uri. This was also due to the promotion of tourism and economic development in the mountain areas.

The Susten Mountain Road - Early days

The present pass road with a length of 45 kilometres connects Wassen in the Urnerischen Meiental with Meiringen in the Bernese Haslital. 

The construction took place in 1938-46 and was built with minimal manual work as possible, so as to blend with the surrounding landscape. For this purpose, all the retaining walls were clad with natural stones.It was an essential construction programme, for reasons of transport policy and for National Defence.

The Pass height (2259 metres above sea level) is different today, than on the old Sustenstrasse (at 2224 metres above sea level).

The Susten Pass is open from mid-June to mid-October, with its numerous bridges and tunnels and magnificent surrounding mountain landscapes. It is one of the most popular passes in Switzerland, particularly for the views of the stein Glacier on the south side.

A small town on the Susten Pass Road

The Commemorative Coin:

The Reverse and Obverse images of the 20 Franc Silver coin placed side-by-side.

The Reverse of the 20 Swiss Franc Silver Coin (designed by Vito Noto, Cadro) depicts a motor-cycle rider with a side-car negotiating a curve on the road on the "Susten Pass" (name placed at the bottom periphery).

At centre right is the name of the designer "VITO NOTO".

The Obverse of the 20 Swiss franc Silver Coin depicts the name of the issuing country/authority "CONFEDERATIO HELVETICA" (meaning the "Hellenic Confederation") and the year of issue "2020". The denomination of the coin "20 FR" is at lower bottom, together with the Bernemint-mark - "B".

The specifications of the Commemorative Silver Coin are:

Denomination: 20 Swiss Franc; Metal Composition: .835 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 20.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 33.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P) and Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Mint: Berne Mint; Mintage: Proof pieces in Presentation Case - 5,000, BU pieces - 20,000 and 19,000 pieces in Blister Pack; Designer: Vito Noto; Year/Date of issue: 03.09.2020; Selling Period: up to 02.09.2023 or while stocks last; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.

The Presentation Case in which the 20 Franc Silver Coin on the Susten Pass is shipped/housed. The Coin is encapsulated and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).



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