Swiss franc

The Swiss franc is the money used in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is also used in a small part of Italy called Campione d'Italia. The Swiss National Bank makes the paper money, and Swissmint makes the coins.

People in Switzerland call their money "franc" and the tiny pieces "Rappen" or "centime." Banks around the world use the letters CHF to talk about the Swiss franc. This stands for Confoederatio Helvetica Franc, with Confoederatio Helvetica being the Latin name for Switzerland.

Coins and Paper Money

Switzerland makes coins in many sizes. Some are made from copper, nickel, and silver. The smallest coins are worth 5 Rappen or 10 centimes. Bigger coins are worth 20 centimes, 1/2 franc, 1 franc, 2 francs, and 5 francs. People use these coins for buying small things.

The Swiss National Bank makes paper money called banknotes. They have notes for 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1000 francs. The newest notes have pretty pictures of famous Swiss people and places. Old notes are still good and can be changed for new ones at banks.

Why It Is Special

The Swiss franc is known for being strong and steady. Many people and countries keep Swiss francs safe in their banks because they trust it to stay valuable. It is the only franc still used in Europe today.

You can use up to 100 coins to pay for something, but you can use banknotes for any amount. The Swiss franc helps people in Switzerland and nearby places buy things every day.