Business · Economy · 20 hrs ago
Swiss National Bank will stop exchanging 1-rappen coins after 2026
Switzerland’s 1-rappen coins can no longer be used for payments, but the Swiss National Bank still exchanges them at face value.
The coins left everyday circulation on January 1, 2007, after they became rarely used and cost more to make than they were worth.
The exchange deadline is December 31, 2026, under a 20-year redemption period for withdrawn coins.
From January 1, 2027, the bank and Swissmint will no longer take them back.
About 239 million coins remain, worth nearly 2.4 million Swiss francs in total, according to figures from the end of June 2026.
After the deadline, holders can keep them or sell them to collectors, and the 2006 coins may be especially sought after because only 30,000 were made.
The coins can also be disposed of at a scrap-metal collection point or recycling business.
The Swiss National Bank will stop exchanging 1-rappen coins after 2026.
The 20-year exchange period ends because the coins left Swiss payment circulation at the start of 2007.
From January 1, 2027, the coins can no longer be exchanged at face value, and neither the National Bank nor Swissmint will take them back.
At the end of June 2026, 239,244,712 one-rappen coins were still in circulation, worth almost 2.4 million Swiss francs.
Coins may still be kept as souvenirs or sold to collectors after the exchange deadline.
- Who
- The Swiss National Bank will stop exchanging the coins. Swissmint official Delphine Meyer confirmed the deadline.
- What
- Exchange of one-rappen coins at face value will end. After the deadline, they may still be kept or sold to collectors.
- When
- The exchange deadline is December 31, 2026. Exchange will no longer be possible from January 1, 2027.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- The 20-year exchange period for coins withdrawn from circulation expires at the end of 2026.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Swiss finance department proposed withdrawing both one-rappen and five-rappen coins from circulation.
The Federal Council decided that one-rappen coins would cease to be legal tender from January 1, 2007.
One-rappen coins left Swiss payment circulation, starting the 20-year exchange period.
The deadline for exchanging the coins at face value expires.
Exchange of the coins will no longer be possible.
- Coins still in circulation
- 239,244,712 at the end of June 2026
- Total face value
- Almost 2.4 million Swiss francs
- Exchange deadline
- December 31, 2026
- Coins withdrawn from payment circulation
- January 1, 2007
- Last mintage year
- 2006; 30,000 coins were made
What people are saying
From January 1, 2027, exchange will therefore no longer be possible.