The Rhone Glacier Concludes the Swiss Glaciers Trilogy
On 11 January 2024, Swissmint is issuing the new Rhone glacier bimetallic coin, the third in the three-part series on Swiss glaciers. The first special coin of 2024 honors the more than 10-km long valley glacier as a major landmark in Goms and in Switzerland.
The new commemorative coins pay tribute to the Rhone Glacier in the canton of Valais.
The Rhone glacier – known in some areas as the Rotten glacier – is a valley glacier at the source of the Rhone in the far north-east of the canton of Valais and one of the key landmarks in Goms and in Switzerland. It spans around 10 kilometers and forms the source of the Rhone. The glacier has an average width of around two kilometers and covers an area of approximately 17 km2. The Rhone glacier was a major tourist attraction, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, due to its tongue, which back then still reached far down into the valley at Gletsch. In recent decades, the glacier has lost a considerable amount of its mass due to climate change. Its surface is dominated by large crevasses and ice caves. Even today, tourists can still view the Rhone Glacier from the Belvedere platform. Conservation and research efforts are underway to understand the effects of climate change on the Rhone glacier and to protect it. It is currently assumed that it will have almost completely disappeared by 2100. The Rhone glacier special coin immortalizes the beauty of this natural phenomenon.
Switzerland / 10 Swiss Francs / aluminium bronze and copper-nickel / 15 g / 33 mm / Mintage: 5,000 (uncirculated), 2,250 (proof), 250 (proof with artists certificate).
The special coins bring our country’s history and memories to life
The 15g special coin “Rhone glacier”, made of aluminum bronze and copper-nickel, stands out thanks to its impressive attention to detail on the obverse side, which shows part of the Rhone glacier. The reverse shows the face value of CHF 10. The bimetallic coin will be released in proof quality, with artist’s certificate and in uncirculated quality. The special coin is also part of the 2024 annual coin sets, in both brilliant uncirculated and proof quality. These will also be available from 11 January.
