Poetic Machines: Swissmint Honors Jean Tinguely
The new silver coin from Swissmint marks the 100th birthday of the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely. The CHF 20 special coin celebrates the creations of this influential 20th-century artist, and will be available from 22 May 2025.
Swissmint produces exclusive limited-edition collector coins under the name “Swiss special coins”. Jean Tinguely’s love of kinetic sculptures and poetic machines is showcased with the issue of the unique and artistic “Jean Tinguely” silver coin. To mark his 100th birthday, the silver coin features a detail from his Eureka sculpture.
Eureka on the Zürichhorn. Background: Roland zh via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0.
Jean Tinguely (1925–1991) was one of the most influential Swiss artists of his day. Born in Fribourg (FR), he shaped the world of art with his playful and critical approach, creating mobile works from recycled materials and combining sound, mechanics and aesthetics. His iconic works and his collaboration with other artists, such as Niki de Saint Phalle, made him a key figure of contemporary art.
The Tinguely Museum in Basel houses the largest collection of Jean Tinguely’s kinetic works. A permanent exhibition showcases his understanding of machines as the epitome of humour, poetry and constant motion of life, and this silver coin issue honours his cultural legacy in a new way.
Switzerland / 20 francs / silver .999 / 20 g / 33 mm / mintage: 7,500 (uncirculated), 3,500 (proof), 1,000 (Collector’s Edition Jean Tinguely).
The CHF 20 coin is made of a 999 silver alloy, has a diameter of 33mm and weighs 20g. The coin’s obverse shows a detail from Eureka, the iconic sculpture which was created for the 1964 Swiss national exhibition in Lausanne and which now stands in Zurich. This work, which is made up of intermeshed wheels and mechanisms, shows Tinguely’s vision of breaking through traditional artistic codes by incorporating new materials. The name “Jean Tinguely” is applied collage-style in the upper part of the coin – a nod to one of his favourite artistic techniques. His birth year, 1925, is highlighted in reference to the artist’s centenary in 2025.
The reverse shows a portrait of Jean Tinguely as a line drawing that traces the contours of his face. This graphic representation recalls his artistic universe, in which lines, forms and mechanical structures come together to create works that are in constant motion. The face value of CHF 20 is beneath the portrait, and the whole is framed by the words “CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA 2025”, followed by a small “B” to indicate the place of manufacture, Bern.
Jean Tinguely. Eos xk III, 196 at Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Image: Talmoryair via Wikimedia Commons / public domain.
“Jean Tinguely is one of the most pre-eminent Swiss artists of the 20th century. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, we are celebrating his cultural legacy with a special coin and marking his influence on Swiss art history”, explains Jan Niklas Betz, Deputy General Manager and Head of Marketing/Sales at Swissmint.
It will be released in a strictly limited issue: 7,500 coins in uncirculated quality with an issue price of CHF 25, and 3,500 coins in proof quality with an issue price of CHF 79. A further 1,000 Jean Tinguely coins will be issued in blisterpacks in a numbered issue. The coin will be available from 22 May 2025 in Swissmint’s official online shop.
The Federal Mint Swissmint produces Swiss franc coins on behalf of the Swiss Confederation. These have been created in the heart of Switzerland since 1855, and in the popular Kirchenfeld district of Bern since 1906. Since 1936, Swissmint has also minted special coins to commemorate important historical and cultural events and to honour prominent figures. Each of these special coins is a miniature work of art in a unique tradition of artistry and craftsmanship.
