Europe’s reservoir:
New special coin series featuring
swiss lakes
With around 1,500 lakes and innumerable rivers, Switzerland is a reservoir at the heart of Europe. On 30 October, Swissmint issued the first two coins in a new four-part series on Swiss lakes.
About Lake Maggiore
Lago Maggiore (Italian for ‘greater lake’) is Switzerland’s southernmost lake and encapsulates the south of Switzerland. It straddles the canton of Ticino and the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy, and is fed and drained by the river Ticino, from which the canton takes its name. It is renowned for its Mediterranean climate, the charming towns along its shores and the impressive natural surroundings. The upper Lake Maggiore is the northern part of the lake, stretching from Chiffa to the Swiss border. The lower lake traces the shoreline between Lesa and Castelletto Sopra Ticino, as well as the hinterland extending from the Mottarone mountain in the North to the southern end of Lago d’Orta.
Lake Maggiore is also known by other names: Lago Verbano (from the Latin Lacus Verbanus), Lagh Magior (in Lombardian), Langensee (in German) and Lac Majeur (in French). It is narrow and curved with a multitude of inlets, and is fed from north to south. It has an area of 212.5km², of which 19.9% is in Switzerland and 80.1% in Italy.
About Lake Lugano
Lago di Lugano, or Lake Lugano, lies in the south of Switzerland in the canton of Ticino, directly on the border with Italy. It is enchanting, with its Mediterranean flair and the Alps in the background.
63% of the lake is in the canton of Ticino, and 37% in Italy.
It is located between the two larger lakes, Lake Maggiore and Lago di Como. Owing to its irregular shape, it straddles the Swiss-Italian border in both the west and the east. There is also the Italian enclave of Campione d’Italia, which is completely surrounded by the canton of Ticino. The lake has a total area of 48.7km² and is 35km long. At its widest point, it measures 3km, while the average width is about 1km.
Obverse
Glittering and still, the lakes sit perfectly within the coin designs. The landscapes surrounding Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano are depicted by means of contour lines extending out to the coin’s edge. It is these surroundings which make Switzerland’s lakes so appealing. It is a habitat for people and animals, a place of retreat and relaxation combined.
Reverse
On the reverse, all special coins in the new four-part ‘Swiss lakes’ series feature a striking graphic symbolising Switzerland’s role as Europe’s reservoir. Around the edge of the coin is the face value of 20 francs, the inscription ‘CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA’ the minting year 2025 and the mint mark B for Swissmint.
