---
title: "What is on Switzerland's banknotes?"
description: "The Swiss franc: who is on each denomination, what was withdrawn and why, what the notes are printed on, and whether the sizes differ."
url: https://atoneplace.net/banknote/switzerland/
site: "At One Place"
---

# What is on the money in Switzerland?

**The money in Switzerland: Swiss franc (CHF)**

6 denominations in issue · Some polymer, some paper

The ninth series, issued from 2016, is printed vertically rather than horizontally, which almost no other currency does. It also abandoned portraits entirely: each note takes an abstract theme — time, light, wind, water, matter, language — rather than a person, on the reasoning that a national figure inevitably belongs to one linguistic community rather than all four. The substrate is a triple-layer composite of two paper layers around a polymer core.

## Who and what is on each note

| Note | Who or what is on it | Colour |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10 Fr | Time — the organising theme is Swiss characteristics | Yellow |
| 20 Fr | Light | Red |
| 50 Fr | Wind | Green |
| 100 Fr | Water | Blue |
| 200 Fr | Matter | Brown |
| 1,000 Fr | Language | Purple |

## The unusual part

The 1,000-franc note is one of the highest-value notes still issued anywhere and is worth over a thousand US dollars. Switzerland has declined to withdraw it, arguing that cash use is a civil liberty.

## The practical facts

- **Currency:** Swiss franc — ISO code CHF
- **Printed on:** Some polymer, some paper
- **Survives a wash?:** Not reliably. Paper notes disintegrate when soaked.
- **Can a blind person tell them apart?:** Yes — the denominations differ in size, which is the simplest and most reliable tactile cue there is.
- **Highest note in issue:** 1,000 Fr — Language

> This page describes the notes rather than showing them. Reproducing a banknote image is restricted in most jurisdictions, and the restrictions differ between them.

## Common questions

### Who is on the money in Switzerland?

10 Fr: Time — the organising theme is Swiss characteristics. 20 Fr: Light. 50 Fr: Wind. 100 Fr: Water. 200 Fr: Matter. 1,000 Fr: Language.

### Are Switzerland's banknotes polymer or paper?

Some polymer, some paper.

## Related pages

- [Switzerland](https://atoneplace.net/country/switzerland/)
- [The flag of Switzerland](https://atoneplace.net/flag/switzerland/)
- [The money in United States](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/united-states/)
- [The money in Eurozone](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/eurozone/)
- [The money in United Kingdom](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/united-kingdom/)
- [The money in India](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/india/)
- [The money in Japan](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/japan/)
- [The money in Zimbabwe](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/zimbabwe/)
- [The money in Australia](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/australia/)
- [The money in Canada](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/canada/)
- [The money in China](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/china/)
- [The money in South Africa](https://atoneplace.net/banknote/south-africa/)

## Sources

- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)