Swiss franc

Swiss franc
9th Series BanknotesCoins
ISO 4217
CodeCHF (numeric: 756)
Subunit0.01
Unit
Plural
SymbolNone. Abbreviations used:
Nickname
  • Swiss German (one selection, terms vary in different dialects):

Füfräppler/Füfi for a 5 centimes coin; Zëhräppler/Zähni for a 10 centimes coin; Zwänzgräppler/Zwänzgi for a 20 centimes coin; Füfzgi for a 50 centimes coin; Stutz or Franke for a 1 franc coin or change in general; Füüfliiber for a 5 francs coin; Rappe and Batze are specifically used for coin below 1 franc, but also figuratively for change in general

  • Swiss Standard German: Einfränkler for a 1 franc coin; Zweifränkler for a 2 francs coin; Hunderter for a 100 francs note; Ameise for a 1000 francs note
  • Swiss French: balle(s) for ≥ 1 franc; thune for a 5 franc coin
  • Swiss Italian:
Denominations
Subunit
1100
Banknotes
Freq. used10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 francs
Coins
Freq. used5, 10, 20 centimes, 12, 1, 2, 5 francs
Demographics
Official user(s)
Unofficial user(s) Büsingen am Hochrhein, Germany
Issuance
Central bankSwiss National Bank
Websitewww.snb.ch
PrinterOrell Füssli
Websitewww.orellfuessli.com
MintSwissmint
Websitewww.swissmint.ch
Valuation
Inflation1.1% in 2024
SourceStatistik Schweiz
MethodConsumer price index

The Swiss franc, or simply the franc, is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is also legal tender in the Italian exclave of Campione d'Italia which is surrounded by Swiss territory. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) issues banknotes and the federal mint Swissmint issues coins.

It is also designated through currency signs Fr. (in German language), fr. (in French, Italian, Romansh languages), as well as in any other language, or internationally as CHF which stands for Confoederatio Helvetica Franc. This acronym also serves as the ISO 4217 currency code, used by banks and financial institutions.

The smaller denomination, a hundredth of a franc, is a Rappen (Rp.) in German, centime (c.) in French, centesimo (ct.) in Italian, and rap (rp.) in Romansh.

The official symbols Fr. (German symbol) and fr. (Latin languages) are widely used by businesses and advertisers, also for the English language. According to Art. 1 SR/RS 941.101 of the federal law collection the internationally official abbreviation – besides the national languages – however is CHF, also in English; respective guides also request to use the ISO 4217 code. The use of SFr. for Swiss Franc and fr.sv. are outdated. As previously indicated Latinate "CH" stands for Confoederatio Helvetica; given the different languages used in Switzerland, Latin is used for language-neutral inscriptions on its coins.