Switzerland 2020: Roger Federer

[chrisild]

Switzerland has just issued a 20 Fr collector coin dedicated to the tennis player Roger Federer. It is dated 2020 but can already be purchased from Swissmint. This is a premiere in that Switzerland has never dedicated a coin to a living person so far. The https://www.swissmintshop.ch site seems to be down by the way ...

[Bimat]

33,000 pieces of Roger Federer's silver coin sold out

DECEMBER 6, 2019 00:32
by DZEVAD MESIC

The pre-sale of Roger Federer's silver coin was closed out after the pre-sale quantity of 33,000 coins got sold out. Several days ago, it was announced that Swissmint company would honor the Swiss tennis legend with a commemorative 20 Swiss franc ($20) silver coin.

The coin -- which features 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer in his trademark headband preparing to strike a backhand -- could have been bought for 30 Swiss francs. "Pre-sale closed. The pre-sale quantity of 33,000 pieces of the Roger Federer silver coin is sold out.

The coins are no longer available on the web shop. However, fans who missed out on the chance to buy a coin will have opportunity to get themselves one piece in January or May. "On the day of issue of 23 January, a remaining quantity of 22,000 pieces and higher quality coins ("proof-quality" and "folder") will be put on sale.

A further 40,000 Roger Federer silver coins will be issued in May 2020," as revealed by the tennis blogger from Switzerland.

Source

[Bimat]

I have finally added the uncirculated version of the Roger Federer coin to my collection! It was a long wait of more than 3 months to receive to letter due to lockdown etc., was pleased to see the coin in perfect condition today after repeated follow-ups with India Post through Twitter.

According to Swiss Mint, a total of 95,000 unc coins were released, all sold out.

Aditya

[Bimat]

Owing to high demand, Swiss mint has stuck 40,000 additional Federer coins in silver, still available for CHF 30.

With these 40,000 additional coins, total mintage of Federer coins (Silver, unc) is 135,000.

Aditya

[chrisild]

Swissmint also issued a Federer gold coin by the way. This is the brochure (PDF). Mintage 10,000 (500 of those came with an extra certificate signed by Remo Mascherini, the designer of the two coins).

Christian

[Bimat]

Swissmint also issued a Federer gold coin by the way. This is the brochure (PDF). Mintage 10,000 (500 of those came with an extra certificate signed by Remo Mascherini, the designer of the two coins).

Christian

I prefer the design on silver 20 CHF coin more. The gold coins is nice (because it is gold) but the design isn't good. Had they used this design on silver coin too - I probably wouldn't have got it.

Aditya

[chrisild]

Just read an interesting article about where the gold for the 50 fr coin is from. Or rather, I wanted to read it, but it is behind a paywall:
https://www.derbund.ch/der-bund-kauft-gold-von-umstrittenem-lieferanten-922570375312
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/der-bund-kauft-gold-von-umstrittenem-lieferanten-922570375312
https://www.bazonline.ch/der-bund-kauft-gold-von-umstrittenem-lieferanten-922570375312
The three are part of the Tamedia group, so it is the same article (in German) and the same "barrier" ...

What can be read without registration says that the gold for the coins is from the Balerna (Ticino) based refinery Valcambi. And that company gets most of its gold from Dubai. Now the question is, where does that gold actually come from?

One of Valcambi's sources in the UAE is the Kaloti group, and it seems to be somewhat likely that this company is involved in or profits from the gold trade in African conflict regions. Here is a Tamedia article in German from earlier this year about "dirty gold". And here is one in English. The Swiss NGO "Swissaid" put a report about this (PDF, English version) online.

Christian

[eurocoin]

Yes, Kaloti doesn't have a very good reputation to say the least..

I had a look at the article. The boss of Valcambi confirmed that they get some of their gold from Kaloti in Dubai. Swissmint says that they only accept LBMA Good Delivery gold bars that meet the OECD requirements for supply chains. The seal guarantees the purity and the «ethical» origin of the gold. However, this industry standard is criticized by the Swiss Federal Audit Office and NGOs as being too lax: The standard does not oblige refineries to disclose their suppliers.

The reports of the last few weeks have however also unsettled Swissmint and they have asked Valcambi again for confirmation that the agreed standards, particularly with regard to origin, are being adhered to. Valcambi writes in a press release that the company does not currently obtain gold from conflict regions or high-risk areas, except from strictly certified sources. The company does not rule out the possibility of processing gold from non-certified mines in conflict regions in the future. But only when they have the risk under control.

Some local far left politicians are not happy either.