{"id":465641,"date":"2026-03-15T17:14:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T17:14:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/blog\/2026\/03\/15\/new-swiss-banknotes-rocks-plants-and-alpine-huts\/"},"modified":"2026-03-15T17:14:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T17:14:36","slug":"new-swiss-banknotes-rocks-plants-and-alpine-huts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/blog\/2026\/03\/15\/new-swiss-banknotes-rocks-plants-and-alpine-huts\/","title":{"rendered":"New Swiss Banknotes: Rocks, Plants, and Alpine Huts"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Swiss-Banknotes-by-Emphase-Concept-J_main.jpg\" alt=\"New Swiss Banknotes by Emphase - Concept J\" class=\"wp-image-128769\"><\/figure>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>Switzerland is getting new banknotes. And honestly, they sound like something worth getting excited about.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Swiss National Bank has picked a winner for the next generation of Swiss francs. The new notes will look different, tell a new story, and come packed with even more security features. The catch? You will not be holding them until the early 2030s.<\/p>\n<p>Here is everything you need to know.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-inline-notice uagb-inline_notice__align-left uagb-block-f5b60315\"><button class=\"uagb-notice-close-button\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Close\"><\/button><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"uagb-notice-title\"><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<div class=\"uagb-notice-text\">\n<p>The SNB selected Lausanne-based <strong>Emphase S\u00e0rl<\/strong> to design the <strong>10th series of Swiss banknotes<\/strong>. The theme is <strong>&#8220;Switzerland and Its Altitudes&#8221;<\/strong> &#8211; from lowland river plains to high alpine peaks.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Denominations (10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 CHF) and colors stay the same.<br \/>&#8211; First notes enter circulation in the <strong>early 2030s, likely in 2031<\/strong>.<br \/>&#8211; The expert jury actually ranked a <strong>different design first<\/strong> &#8211; Zurich studio Marcus Kraft &#8211; before the overall evaluation led to Emphase winning<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-f5a5db6 is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"f5a5db6\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">No midlife crisis for the current Swiss franc notes<\/h2>\n<p>The current ninth series launched between 2016 and 2019. The average lifespan of a Swiss banknote series is around 15 to 20 years. So, today&#8217;s notes are actually still in perfectly good shape.<\/p>\n<p>SNB president Martin Schlegel put it best back in October 2025: <em>&#8220;I can assure you that the current notes are not having a midlife crisis.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>That said, the development of a new series takes several years. While your 20-franc note is not going anywhere soon, the SNB is already deep into building its replacement. On March 4, 2026, SNB representatives S\u00e9bastien Kraenzlin and Antoine Martin announced the winner at the SNB&#8217;s Zurich headquarters.<\/p>\n<p>Six finalists were still in the running. The winners: Fabienne Kilch\u00f6r and S\u00e9bastien Fasel from the Lausanne design studio Emphase S\u00e0rl.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-be024a3 is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"be024a3\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Why Switzerland Is Redesigning Its Banknotes<\/h2>\n<p>Switzerland takes its cash seriously. Dare I say more? Cash payments have declined from 70 percent in 2017 to 30 percent. Yet, most Swiss people want to keep cash around. I always carry cash in my wallet, although I am guilty of using credit cards or Twint most of the time&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>The SNB has a clear job: make sure banknotes stay secure, practical, and one step ahead of anyone trying to fake them. That means regularly updating the series with better technology, better security features, and a fresh design.<\/p>\n<p>The current ninth series, designed by Zurich graphic artist Manuela Pfrunder, launched between 2016 and 2019. It was a big deal at the time, and it still holds up.<\/p>\n<p>But then again, technology moves fast. You can read about what made the ninth series so impressive in our post on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/7-interesting-facts-about-the-new-swiss-banknotes\/\">security features of Swiss banknotes<\/a>. The tenth series now has to raise that bar.<\/p>\n<p>There is also a political backdrop. On March 8, 2026, Switzerland voted on a &#8220;cash initiative&#8221; that wanted to write coins and banknotes into the federal constitution. The Federal Council said <em>no<\/em> to the initiative but offered a counter-proposal to protect the SNB&#8217;s duty to supply cash.<\/p>\n<p>The SNB announced its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snb.ch\/en\/the-snb\/mandates-goals\/cash\/series-10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">winning banknote design<\/a> just days before the vote. Now, whether or not this was coincidence or simply timing, it sent a clear message: the Swiss franc in physical form is not going away. And personally, I&#8217;m glad, because I have so many memories of Swiss coins and bills going all the way back to my childhood&#8230;<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-64f711e is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"64f711e\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Emphase Wins the Swiss Banknote Design Competition<\/h2>\n<p>The new series will be designed by <strong>Emphase S\u00e0rl<\/strong>, a studio from Lausanne run by Fabienne Kilch\u00f6r and S\u00e9bastien Fasel. Their concept, called <em>Concept J<\/em>, came out on top after a serious competition.<\/p>\n<p>Here is how it worked:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>More than <strong>300 designers<\/strong> applied<\/li>\n<li><strong>12 studios<\/strong> were invited to submit full concepts<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>six-member expert jury<\/strong> evaluated all 12 proposals<\/li>\n<li>Over <strong>100,000 people<\/strong> voted in a public survey<\/li>\n<li><em>Concept J<\/em> landed in the <strong>top three<\/strong> in both the jury and public rankings<\/li>\n<li>When commercial and organisational criteria were added, <em>Concept J<\/em> had the <strong>best overall result<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>The jury included specialists from the University of St. Gallen, the Federal Office of Culture, and Swiss design and printing organisations. This was not just a vote on what <em>looks<\/em> nice. It was a serious assessment covering <strong>design quality<\/strong>, <strong>technical feasibility<\/strong>, and <strong>real-world production<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><mark class=\"rank-math-highlight\">Emphase now has a formal mandate to develop the entire tenth series along with the SNB&#8217;s internal specialists.<\/mark><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-cf7181a is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"cf7181a\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">&#8220;Switzerland and Its Altitudes&#8221;<br \/>(What the Theme Actually Means)<\/h2>\n<p>Every studio in the competition worked with the same brief from the SNB: <strong>&#8220;Switzerland and Its Altitudes.&#8221;<\/strong> (German: <em>Die Schweiz und ihre H\u00f6henlagen<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>The idea is to take Switzerland&#8217;s most defining physical feature (around 70 percent of the country is mountains) and turn it into a visual system across all six denominations. From the flattest lowlands to the highest peaks, each note belongs to a different altitude zone.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a breakdown of what this means:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Smaller denominations<\/strong> (CHF 10, CHF 20) connect to low-altitude environments: the Mittelland, rivers, the Jura<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mid-range values<\/strong> (CHF 50, CHF 100) cover pre-alpine areas, lakes, and hillside towns<\/li>\n<li><strong>Higher values<\/strong> (CHF 200, CHF 1000) go all the way up into the Alps: glaciers, rock faces, high passes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Pick up a 10-franc note and you are at the river. Pull out a 1000-franc note and you are at the summit. Kinda cool, right?<\/p>\n<p>The current ninth series was built around abstract concepts: time, light, and communication.<\/p>\n<p><mark class=\"rank-math-highlight\">The upcoming tenth series drops any abstraction and goes straight to the physical landscape. In my opinion, it&#8217;s a shift in how Switzerland wants to present itself on its own money.<\/mark><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-0455700 is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"0455700\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">What the New Swiss Banknotes Will Look Like<\/h2>\n<p>Drumrolls, please&#8230; Each new banknote in <em>Concept J<\/em> has two <em>distinct<\/em> sides, and here is what they will feature:<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Front: Native Swiss Plants and Nature by Altitude<\/h3>\n<p>One face of every note shows <strong>native plants, flowers, and small creatures<\/strong>. Think insects, pollinators, and species that live at that specific altitude.<\/p>\n<p>The illustrations are detailed and fine-lined, designed to work together with microtext and security features layered underneath.<\/p>\n<p>This turns each note into a small field guide. Meadow plants on the lower denominations, alpine flora on the higher ones. For a country where nature is central to both daily life and tourism, this feels like a &#8220;natural fit&#8221; &#8211; no pun intended.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1575\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Swiss-Banknotes-by-Emphase-Concept-J_front.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-128762\"><\/figure>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Back: Landscapes, Buildings, and Swiss Public Transport<\/h3>\n<p>The reverse side puts <strong>human life<\/strong> at that same altitude on display:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Architecture typical to each elevation, from lowland farmhouses to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/extreme-swiss-mountain-huts\/\">alpine huts<\/a> and the Jungfraujoch station.<\/li>\n<li>Cultural references connected to how people actually live and work at that altitude.<\/li>\n<li>Swiss public transport and mobility, from the Glacier Express train to cable cars, mountain roads and tunnels. They are a kind of thread connecting all the altitude zones.<\/li>\n<li>Landscapes, from river bends to hillside villages, passes, and peaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1575\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Swiss-Banknotes-by-Emphase-Concept-J_back.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-128763\"><\/figure>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>For anyone who has explored Switzerland by train, post bus, or cable car, this will feel familiar. The new Swiss banknotes basically double as a love letter to <a rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/money-money-money\/\" class=\"shortlink shortlink-396\">Swiss mobility<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-f9a3a7c is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"f9a3a7c\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Studio Marcus Kraft&#8217;s &#8220;Rock and landscape as currency&#8221;<\/h2>\n<p>Here is where the story gets really interesting. The expert jury actually ranked the concept by Zurich-based Studio Marcus Kraft first.<\/p>\n<p>But when the full evaluation (including commercial and organisational criteria) was factored in, Emphase&#8217;s <em>Concept J<\/em> came out ahead overall.<\/p>\n<p>Both proposals were seriously good, and the final call came down to criteria that go well beyond visual design.<\/p>\n<p>Marcus Kraft&#8217;s concept is called <strong>&#8220;Rock and landscape as currency.&#8221;<\/strong> The idea is clever and direct: the Swiss franc is a hard currency, internationally known for stability and reliability. Switzerland is a country literally made of rock. Put the two ideas together and you get: rocks on money.<\/p>\n<p>Marcus Kraft&#8217;s &#8220;Hard as a Rock&#8221; would have looked unlike any banknote series in the world. Each bill would have featured a real stone collected at a specific Swiss altitude, photographed at full original scale with high precision.<\/p>\n<p>Studio Marcus Kraft has since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marcuskraft.com\/projects\/swiss-banknotes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shared their concept<\/a> publicly:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-c6d45f2 is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"c6d45f2\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">The Internet Had Its Own Ideas for New Swiss Banknotes<\/h2>\n<p>The SNB announcement sparked a wave of unofficial, tongue-in-cheek proposals on social media. And I have to say, some of them are genuinely fun. Or intricate, like the oneby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DVjL15cCPk0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rigi Railways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>One that I particularly liked is from the city of Winterthur. A local account imagined what the new bills would look like if they were dedicated entirely to <em>Winti<\/em> landmarks: the Bruderhaus, the Roter Turm, the B\u00e4umli, and the Affenschlucht all made appearances on mock-up notes in the familiar Swiss franc format.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Winterthur-City-Proposal-New-Swiss-Banknotes-Facebook.jpg\" alt=\"Winterthur City Proposal New Swiss Banknotes\" class=\"wp-image-128758\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Copyright City of Winterthur\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-eb233df is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"eb233df\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Colors, Denominations, and What Stays the Same<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most practical decisions in the new series: the familiar stuff does not change.<\/p>\n<p>The SNB has confirmed:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Denominations stay at <strong>10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1000 francs<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The color scheme stays <strong>broadly consistent with the current ninth series<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The yellow 10-franc note stays yellow. The red 20-franc note stays red. You will not need to relearn your money.<\/p>\n<p>For residents, tourists, elderly people, and anyone who identifies notes by color at the checkout, this matters a lot. (Me!) The new design changes the visual story on each bill., but the main characteristics will stay the same.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-a1d5049 is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"a1d5049\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">When Will the New Swiss Franc Banknotes Actually Arrive?<\/h2>\n<p>Short answer: not before the early 2030s, likely in 2031. Here&#8217;s why it takes that long:<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" data-mobilecollapse=\"false\" data-desktopcollapse=\"false\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-defdddd6-198c-4783-9ae1-4967264d0670\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-defdddd6-198c-4783-9ae1-4967264d0670\"><strong>Step 1: Graphic Development (1 to 2 years)<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down open\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap\">\n<p>The competition concept goes into a phase of graphic refinement. Emphase and the SNB work together to adapt the design for real banknote production. Not everything that works in a competition renders well in industrial printing at scale. So, keep in mind that the final notes will likely differ from any competition visuals.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-1-defdddd6-198c-4783-9ae1-4967264d0670\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-defdddd6-198c-4783-9ae1-4967264d0670\"><strong>Step 2: Technical Development (approx. 2 years)<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down open\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap\">\n<p>Security features get integrated. Substrates are selected. The notes are tested across machines, lighting conditions, and wear scenarios. Every ink, foil, and paper type has to work together and survive years of daily handling.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-2-defdddd6-198c-4783-9ae1-4967264d0670\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-defdddd6-198c-4783-9ae1-4967264d0670\"><strong>Step 3: Production Testing and Bank Council Approval<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down open\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap\">\n<p>Before launch, the SNB runs full production tests and makes sure the new notes work in ATMs and cash-handling machines across Switzerland.<\/p>\n<p>The Bank Council takes the <strong>final decision on the design<\/strong>, meaning what you actually get in your wallet in the 2030s could look different from <em>Concept J<\/em> as it stands today.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-a5ba866 is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"a5ba866\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Expected Security Features on the New Swiss Banknotes<\/h2>\n<p>The SNB has not yet published the security spec for the tenth series. I think this is for the obvious reason that they don&#8217;t want to give a head-start to forgers.<\/p>\n<p>But looking at the current and past series of bills, Switzerland&#8217;s track record speaks for itself. Swiss banknotes actually have one of the lowest counterfeiting rates in the world, at roughly 1 in 100,000 notes in circulation.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>At the bare minimum, expect these security features on the tenth series:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Watermarks and microprinting<\/strong> embedded in the fine botanical illustration work<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tactile raised printing<\/strong> so denomination values can be felt by touch<\/li>\n<li><strong>Holographic foils or transparent windows<\/strong>, a modern standard on high-security notes<\/li>\n<li><strong>UV-reactive inks<\/strong> revealing hidden patterns under ultraviolet light<\/li>\n<li><strong>Color-shifting elements<\/strong> that change at different viewing angles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Machine-readable serial numbers<\/strong> for ATM and cash-machine compatibility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>The dense botanical illustration style of <em>Concept J<\/em> is probaby way more than just a design choice. By overlapping lines and using incredibly small typography, these bills will be genuinely hard to scan and reproduce. Right there is another ingenious, built-in security layer, let alone all the dedicated anti-counterfeit features.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-1ea51be is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"1ea51be\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">A Brief History of Swiss Banknote Series<\/h2>\n<p>Switzerland has issued <strong>nine complete banknote series<\/strong> since 1907. Each one is a snapshot of Swiss design thinking and security technology at that moment in time.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>eighth series<\/strong> was taken out of circulation in 2021 and is no longer exchangeable at the SNB. That&#8217;s a useful reminder: old Swiss banknotes do eventually reach a hard deadline.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>ninth series<\/strong> introduced a new visual language built around abstract concepts, such as time, light, and communication. It also had some major security upgrades, including the tactile grey relief motif on every note. (Have you noticed it?)<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>tenth series<\/strong> now switches from abstract ideas to actual geography. From what Switzerland <em>stands for<\/em> to what Switzerland <em>looks like<\/em>. That shift says something about where the country is in 2026. And about how it wants to present itself to the world for the next decade and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>For more on Swiss money and how it works, check our earlier post entitled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/money-money-money\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" class=\"shortlink shortlink-396\">Money, Money, Money<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-bb2bd03 is-style-dots\" data-block-id=\"bb2bd03\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dots\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-block-divider__dot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">FAQ About the New Swiss Banknotes<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-175f50cc uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-true uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-bae09d19 \" role=\"tab\">\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>When will the new Swiss banknotes come out?<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-content\">\n<p>The SNB expects the tenth series to enter circulation in the early 2030s, possibly in 2031.<\/p>\n<p>No specific year or launch date has been set. The full development process, including graphic refinement, security integration, production testing, and Bank Council approval, will take several years from now. The ninth series stays in full circulation the entire time, so there is nothing you need to do until then.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-30a1579f \" role=\"tab\">\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Will my current Swiss franc notes lose their value?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-content\">\n<p>Not at all. The current ninth series remains <strong>fully valid legal tender<\/strong> for many years to come. Switzerland always runs a long overlap period between series.<\/p>\n<p>The eighth series, for reference, stayed exchangeable until 2021 &#8211; well after the ninth series launched in 2016. When the time eventually comes, the SNB will give the public plenty of notice and a clear exchange window. Your notes are safe \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-886ba04b \" role=\"tab\">\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Who won the design competition for the new Swiss banknotes?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-content\">\n<p><strong>Emphase S\u00e0rl<\/strong> from Lausanne won the commission, with their <em>Concept J<\/em> scoring the best overall result across artistic, technical, commercial, and organisational criteria.<\/p>\n<p>That said, <strong>Studio Marcus Kraft<\/strong> from Zurich was ranked <strong>f<\/strong>irst by the expert jury on design merit. When the full evaluation came in, which included production and organisational factors, <em>Concept J<\/em> came out on top. Both proposals were strong, but the final decision came down to a broad set of criteria, way beyond aesthetics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-525d7169 \" role=\"tab\">\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>What is the theme of the new Swiss banknotes?<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-content\">\n<p>The theme is <strong>&#8220;Switzerland and Its Altitudes.&#8221;<\/strong> (German: <em>Die Schweiz und ihre H\u00f6henlagen<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>Each denomination is connected to a specific altitude zone, from the lowlands and the Mittelland up to the high Alps. One face of each note shows native plants and creatures at that altitude level. The other shows landscapes, architecture, and transport connections typical to that height. The idea is that the six notes together tell the story of Switzerland from the ground up &#8211; quite literally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-63274ba6 \" role=\"tab\">\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Do the colors and denominations change with the new series?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-content\">\n<p>No. The SNB has confirmed that the denominations (CHF 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000) and the color scheme stay the same as the current ninth series.<\/p>\n<p>The design and visual language change significantly, but the basic color-coding that helps people identify notes quickly stays in place. That&#8217;s good news for anyone who has ever paid for a coffee by reaching for the &#8220;yellow one.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-b4d1946f \" role=\"tab\">\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">How many designers competed for the new Swiss banknotes?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-content\">\n<p>The competition started with over <strong>300 applications<\/strong> from designers across Switzerland (and beyond.) The SNB shortlisted 12 studios and invited them to submit full concepts. Those 12 proposals were evaluated by a six-member expert advisory board and tested in a public survey of over 100,000 people.<\/p>\n<p>The field narrowed to six finalists, and Emphase&#8217;s <em>Concept J<\/em> took the commission. All 12 concepts were shown publicly at Forum SNB in Zurich in March 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-9e65263b \" role=\"tab\">\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Why does a new banknote series take so long to produce?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-content\">\n<p>Right? Well, a banknote is one of the most technically demanding printed objects that exists. Every design element has to survive industrial-scale production, years of physical wear, UV scanners, ATM readers, and attempts at counterfeiting by people with professional equipment.<\/p>\n<p>After the graphic design is done, the SNB has to integrate complex security features, run production tests, work with printing partners, and coordinate with banking and retail infrastructure across the entire country. Are you still with me?<\/p>\n<p>Because only at this point, the Bank Council formally approves the final design. Rushing any of that would be a bad idea on a currency used by millions of people every day&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-efa9cf4a \" role=\"tab\">\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Why does Switzerland still use the 1000-franc banknote?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uagb-faq-content\">\n<p>The 1000-franc note is actually the <strong>most widely circulated Swiss denomination by total volume<\/strong>, accounting for around 61% of all notes in the country.<\/p>\n<p>Switzerland&#8217;s strong cash culture, its use of physical currency for savings, and its privacy norms all play a role. The 1000-franc note is also one of the highest-value banknotes still actively used anywhere in the world. The tenth series keeps it, of course.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-posts stk-block-posts stk--has-container stk-block stk-0a79a9a is-style-vertical-card\" data-v=\"2\" data-block-id=\"0a79a9a\">\n<div class=\"stk-inner-blocks stk-content-align stk-0a79a9a-column\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-posts__items\">\n<div class=\"stk-block-posts__item\">\n<div class=\"stk-container stk-0a79a9a-container stk-hover-parent\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/swiss-dont-talk-salary-talk-money\/\" class=\"stk-block-posts__image-link\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"stk-img-wrapper stk-image--shape-stretch\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Swiss-Money-Initiatives-Grundeinkommen.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"Swiss Money Initiatives 2013\"><\/figure>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<article class=\"stk-container-padding\">\n<h3 class=\"stk-block-posts__title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/swiss-dont-talk-salary-talk-money\/\">The Swiss Don&#8217;t Talk Salary (But They Do Talk Money!)<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"stk-inner-blocks\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/new-swiss-banknotes-10th-series-explained\/\">New Swiss Banknotes: Rocks, Plants, and Alpine Huts<\/a> first appeared in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com%E2%80%9C\/\">Newly Swissed Online Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newlyswissed.com\/new-swiss-banknotes-10th-series-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"feedzy-rss-link-icon\">Read More<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Switzerland is getting new banknotes. And honestly, they sound like something worth getting excited about. The Swiss National Bank has picked a winner for the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":462576,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-465641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","wpcat-7-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/New-Swiss-Banknotes-by-Emphase-Concept-J_main-800x800-JVnYrz.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=465641"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465641\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/462576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=465641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=465641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livelycity.com\/switzerland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=465641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}