The design of the new banknotes at a glance

With the ninth banknote series the Swiss National Bank broke new ground on the design front – moving away from the depiction of well-known personalities. Each note in the new series depicts a typically Swiss characteristic, which is then illustrated graphically using a key motif. Each characteristic is communicated via an action, a Swiss location and various graphic elements. The inspiration behind the new banknote series is ‘The many facets of Switzerland’.

The 50-franc note

The 50-franc note focuses on the wealth of experiences Switzerland has to offer – expressed by the wind, the note’s key motif.

Main colour: Green
Dimensions: 70 x 137 mm
Date of issue: 12 April 2016

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• Hand

  The wind carries forth the seed of the dandelion, which is held playfully in the hand.

• Globe

  

  The arrows on the globe show the direction of the winds that connect Switzerland with other regions and continents.

• Wind arrows

  

  The arrows feature in the background on the front of the note.

• Security strip

  

  

  

  Mountains evoke Switzerland's varied landscapes. The security strip shows the Alps and lists the names of the main four-thousand-metre peaks in the Swiss Alps, from A for Aletschhorn to Z for Zumsteinspitze.

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• Mountains

  The mountain panorama highlights the wealth of experiences Switzerland has to offer.

• Paraglider

  

  The wind, the note's key motif, holds the paraglider aloft in the mountains.

• Contour lines

  

  The contour lines evoke Switzerland's varied landscapes.

Film: The new banknotes – design and security features

There are many other design elements on the note, all of which illustrate its theme of experiences and its key motif, the wind. The following film introduces you to the 50-franc note’s various design elements.

'Swiss Banknotes' app

Discover the new note with the SNB's ‘Swiss Banknotes’ app.