Switzerland

Modern Swiss banknotes are built on the DuraSafe® substrate, a three-layer paper–polymer–paper construction developed by Landqart. This structure allows for sharply defined transparent windows, embedded microstructures, and highly controlled watermark integration, giving the Swiss Franc a distinct physical identity recognized among the most technically advanced in circulation.

The 9th series, titled “The Many Facets of Switzerland,” departs from traditional portrait hierarchy. Each denomination is organized around a national concept — Time, Light, Matter, Language, Wind, and Water — expressed through a recurring hand motif that interacts with instruments, natural forces, and measured phenomena. The result is a design system that feels functional rather than decorative, where composition follows idea with deliberate restraint.

Earlier series reveal a different emphasis. The 8th series represents the height of portrait engraving, featuring figures such as Alberto Giacometti, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, and Le Corbusier. Their notes are executed with exceptional line discipline, where fine engraving approaches the controlled precision associated with Swiss industrial craft.

The 7th series introduces a more analytical dimension. Figures like Leonhard Euler appear alongside mathematical diagrams and symbolic constructions, embedding scientific thought directly into the visual structure of the banknote — a rare approach that distinguishes Switzerland within global numismatics.