522)50 Franc Banknote: issued by the Swiss National Bank, Switzerland in April 2016,winner of the prestigious 2016 “International Bank Note Society Award” (IBNS):
For the IBNS "Banknote of the Year Award winner since 2016, please visit my posts at the following links:
The International BankNote Society (IBNS) has announced that the Swiss National Bank has won theprestigious “Bank Note of the Year Award” for 2016 for its 50 Francs HybridBanknote out of a field of almost 120 new Banknotes released worldwide during2016 of which almost half were of sufficiently new designs to be eligible forthe nomination.
The Swiss Banknotenarrowly pipped the Maldives 1000 Rufiyaa Tortoise/ whale shark, the Argentina1000 Peso Jaguar and the Royal Bank of Scotland’s 5 Pound first polymerBanknote, to the post.
From all significant newlydesigned and widely circulated Banknotes released during 2016, the IBNS membersnominated Banknotes from a near-record 19 countries to place on the ballot. Thenominees represented four continents – Europe, Australia, South America andAsia, two Middle East countries and four island nations.
Aboutthe International Bank Note Society:
The International BankNote Society (IBNS) was founded in 1961 and is a non-profit educationalorganisation with objectives to promote, stimulate and advance the study,collection and dissemination of information related to Paper Money. It seeks toprovide knowledge of worldwide Banknotes and paper Currencies alongeducational, scientific and historical lines.
Now in its 56thyear, the IBNS has over 2000 members worldwide.
Some past recent winnersof the “Bank Note of the Year” Award have included – New Zealand (2015),Trinidad and Tobago (2014), Kazakhstan (2013, 2012, 2011), Uganda (2010),Bermuda (2009), Samoa (2008), Scotland (2007), Comoros (2006), Faeroe Islands(2005) and Canada (2004).
Aboutthe 50 Franc Banknote issued by the Swiss National Bank:
The Switzerland 50 FrancsBanknote is the first new design the Swiss National Bank is the first newdesign the Swiss National Bank has released in 20 years.
The Front of the Awardwinning 50 Franc Swiss Banknote.
The Front of the 50 Franc Banknoteshows a human hand holding a dandelion, whose seeds are being scattered by a gust of wind. Below the hand is the globe (Earth), which will rotate around its axis completing one full circle in 24 hours, showing various positions of the Earth during its rotation on various denominations of Banknotes in the Ninth Series of Banknotes.
This Banknote has been nicknamed the “Dandelion”. I
Printed by Orell FussliSecurity Printing Ltd., this Banknote from the new Ninth Serieswhich has as its theme – Wind and National experiences.
The design of thisBanknote “focuses on the wealth of experiences Switzerland has to offer, aconcept which is represented by the wind”.
ThisBanknote is the first in the new Ninth Series of Banknoteswhich come with “state-of-the-art anti-counterfeiting protection”. Thesecurity features include several design features which can be seen only undera microscope or by using UV ray light. For example – the Banknote’s security strip lists all of the Swiss mountains over4,000 metres high from the Aletschhorn to the Zumsteinspitze.
Using three layersubstrate Durasafe technology,the bright green vertical Banknote depicts Dandelion seeds (on the Front), a paraglideraloft in the mountains (on the Back).
The Back of the 50 Franc Banknote presented vertically
The Back of the 50 Franc Banknote presented horizontally
The Back of the 50 Franc Banknote depicts a paraglideraloft in the mountains.
The Dimensions of this Banknote are 70 x 137 mm.
Slightlysmaller than US Banknotes, this is the first hybrid Banknote to win the covetedIBNS Banknote Award.
Aboutthe Ninth Series of Banknotes being introduced by the Swiss National Bank in aphased manner:
Incorporating the latest technologicalsecurity standards, these Banknotes will depict time, light, wind,water, matter and language.
The depictions of the hand which will be depicted on various denominations of Banknotes
Each element/theme willbe illustrated with a hand “in action”. For example, in the 50 Franc Banknote,a hand holds a Dandelion, which is being scattered by the wind,the main theme of this Banknote.
Various positions of the Globe during a 24 hour period
The shimmering Globewill feature on each Banknote reflecting how Switzerland sees itself as part ofan inter-connected world. In the sequence of Banknotes from 1000 francs to 10Francs, the earth rotates once in its axis and passes through one full day.
The various locations depicted on different denominations of Banknotes
Each Banknote depicts aparticular location/side of Switzerland. Together, the six Banknotesreflect the diversity of Switzerland, which is known for its organisationalprowess, for its vibrant cultural scene, for the wealth of experiences itoffers, as well as, for its humanitarian tradition and its track record as aresearch hub and place of dialogue.
The objects which will be depicted on the Banknotes of various denominations
Each Banknote depicts an objectrelated to the relevant key motif. The key motifs of the six Banknotes aretime, light, wind, water, matter and language as mentioned earlier.
The new Series ofBanknotes will bear the same colour scheme as the older Banknotes, butare smaller in size.
Interestingly, this newBanknote Series will have motifs which replace “people” by “designs” andfeature “Nature” rather than portraits of famous men and women.
For example – the new 50Franc Banknote from the Ninth Series has done away with the image ofSwiss Dada artist Sophie Tauber-Arp who has appeared on the Banknote since1995.
Thenext denomination in the new Swiss Banknotes Ninth Series is the 20 FrancBanknote, with the theme “light” as the Banknote’s key motif has been releasedon 17.05.2017.
Meanwhile,the presently circulating Swiss Banknotes from the Eighth Series will continueto be legal tender till further notice.
An earlier Series ofBanknotes released in 1976 which has been recalled will continue tobe legal tender until 2020. Even after that date, the Swiss National Bank willcontinue to swap the demonetised Banknotes for new versions for the next 20years.
The Front & Back of the presently circulation 50 Swiss Francs Banknote, which will continue to be legal tender till further notice.
(The above Banknote is from the collection of Jayant Biswas. Post researched and written and Banknote scanned by Rajeev Prasad)
Links:
IBNS Award Winners:
1) 50 Dollar Polymer Banknote issued by Trinidad and Tobago in 2014, winner of the 2014 IBNS Award
2) Currency of the Comoros Islands: Comorian Franc and Centimes: Also includes the 1000 Franc Banknote issued in 2006, winner of the IBNS 2006
3) 50 Franc Banknote issued by the Swiss National Bank, Switzerland in April 2016, winner of IBNS Award 2016
Links to posts on the "Flora Alpina" Series:
1) Alpine Edelweiss: "Flora Alpina" Series: The first coin in the Series issued in January 2016
2) Alpine Gentian: "Flora Alpine" Series: The Second Coin in the Series issued in January 2017
Other posts on Swiss Banknotes:
