4366) Hedgehog - "Animal of the Year", Switzerland: The Swissmint at its Berne Mint has issued a 10 CHF (Cupronickel and Aluminium-bronze) Coin depicting the Hedgehog: Date/Year of Coin issue: 19.03.2026:
Since 1998, Pro Natura has named its Animal of the Year in order to raise awareness of species in Switzerland that are threatened and in need of protection.
In 2026, the focus is on the hedgehog as a symbol of native wildlife and the close connection between people and nature.
About Hedgehogs:
A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae.
There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction.
There are no hedgehogs native to Australia and no living species native to the Americas.
However, the extinct genus Amphechinus was once present in North America.
Hedgehogs share distant ancestry with shrews (family Soricidae), with gymnures possibly being the intermediate link, and they have changed little over the last 15 million years.
Like many of the first mammals, they have adapted to a nocturnal way of life.
Their spiny protection resembles that of porcupines, which are rodents, and echidnas, a type of monotreme.
The Coin:
The Reverse of the 10 CHF Cupro-nickel and Aluminum-Bronze Coin shows in the foreground two hedgehogs facing each other in profile, with finely crafted details that are particularly striking. In the background, a third hedgehog, facing front, appears to be observing the scene. This lends the motif additional depth and a strong narrative effect. The coin edge bears the inscription “Tier des Jahres” and the word “hedgehog” in the four national languages.
The Obverse of the 10 CHF Cupro-nickel and Aluminum-Bronze Coin presents an artistic impression of the hedgehog's natural habitat. The motif highlights the animal's spines, whose lines subtly suggest the silhouette of the moon.
This symbolic depiction references the hedgehog's nocturnal lifestyle and strengthens the link between the animal and its natural habitat.
To underline this nocturnal atmosphere, the intentionally minimalist surfaces contain stars which clearly highlight the moon and the night sky. Around the edge of the coin is the face value of CHF 10, the inscription “CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA”, the minting year 2026 and the mint mark "B" (For Berne) for Swissmint.
The coin will be released in a limited issue comprising 7,500 coins in uncirculated quality in the blister and 2,500 coins in proof quality in presentation case.
The Specifications of the coin are:
Face value/Denomination: CHF
10
Metal Composition/Alloy: Cupronickel
and aluminium-bronze
Diameter/Size: 33.00
mm
Weight: 15.00 g
Mintage:
Uncirculated:
7500 units
Proof in presentation case:
2500 units
Online sales start: 19
March 2026, 08.00 a.m.
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Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDeleteA VERY informative and interesting post. Thanks for sharing."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
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