{"id":10878,"date":"2026-06-29T11:21:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T09:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sondermuenze.ch\/?post_type=magazin&p=10878"},"modified":"2026-06-29T11:23:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T09:23:18","slug":"interview-hedgehog","status":"publish","type":"magazin","link":"https:\/\/www.sondermuenze.ch\/en\/magazine\/interview-hedgehog\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Rico Kessler and Fabia Lyrenmann"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column]

\n

Interview with Rico Kessler and Fabia Lyrenmann<\/h1>\n

On 19 March, Swissmint launched the bimetallic \u201canimal of the year: the hedgehog\u201d special coin, commemorating the 2026 animal of the year. We asked Rico Kessler, Communications Project Manager at Pro Natura, and Fabia Lyrenmann, coin designer at Swissmint, to tell our readers about the \u201canimal of the year: the hedgehog\u201d special coin.<\/p>\n<\/div>[vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]

Mr Kessler, could you briefly explain the idea behind \u201canimal of the year\u201d and tell us why the hedgehog was chosen as the 2026 animal of the year?<\/strong>
\nWith its \u201canimal of the year\u201d initiative, Pro Natura focuses on a specific species to highlight where nature needs help and what concrete steps we can take. For example, the hedgehog: the 2026 animal of the year lives right among us in towns and villages. The more nature-friendly we make our gardens, parks, school grounds, cemeteries and green spaces, the better off hedgehogs will be. Pro Natura therefore wants to encourage individuals and local authorities to create more hedges, flower meadows, hiding places and obstacle-free migration corridors for these charming little insectivores.<\/p>\n<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]

Our readers are, of course, very keen to know how the idea arose to issue a special coin featuring the 2026 animal of the year, and what you hope to achieve with the coin. Fabia, can you tell us more?<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s always lovely to link a coin to a theme that resonates with Switzerland and it\u2019s all the more wonderful that this collaboration with Pro Natura has come about. The 2026 animal of the year is not only \u201ccute\u201d but is also classified as \u201cpotentially endangered\u201d. We hope that our coin will help even more people learn about how hedgehogs live, their needs and how we can support them in our shared habitat. That is why we are delighted to dedicate one of our special coins to the \u201c2026 animal of the year\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]

\"Hedgehog\"<\/picture><\/div><\/div>
\n

\u201cThe 2026 animal of the year is not only \u2018cute\u2019 but is also classified as \u2018potentially endangered\u2019\u201d.<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]

Finally, a question for you, Mr Kessler: what message would you like to convey to those who purchase the \u201canimal of the year 2026: the hedgehog\u201d special coin, to encourage them to support and protect hedgehogs?<\/strong>
\nI hope that as many people as possible who buy this collector\u2019s item will be inspired to do even more for hedgehogs in their own gardens, and to encourage their friends and family to do the same. That would be wonderful!<\/p>\n<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]

\"Hedgehog\"<\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Mik Rothenb\u00fchler<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]
\"About<\/picture>Pro Natura has compiled lots of interesting facts about hedgehogs for you here<\/a><\/div><\/div>

About Rico Kessler<\/h2>

After completing his studies (history and political science), Rico Kessler (63) was able to turn his passion for nature conservation into a career. Starting as managing director of Pro Natura Aargau, he has held various roles within Pro Natura. He also worked in agriculture on a part-time basis for 25 years. He is currently based at Pro Natura\u2019s headquarters in Basel, where he is responsible for the \u201canimal of the year\u201d project and various editorial tasks.<\/p>\n

Pro Natura has compiled lots of interesting facts about hedgehogs for you here<\/a><\/use><\/svg>Pro Natura has compiled lots of interesting facts about hedgehogs for you here<\/span><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"About<\/picture><\/div><\/div>

About Fabia Lyrenmann<\/h2>

Fabia Lyrenmann (29) worked in a Zurich museum after completing her bachelor\u2019s degree in graphic design, where she also dealt extensively with three-dimensionality \u2013 just as she does now as a coin designer at Swissmint, albeit on a different scale. She has been with Swissmint for over a year and is able to indulge her love of detail. She devotes herself enthusiastically to every detail of a project, thereby creating a coin design that truly reflects the underlying theme.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

To the special coin<\/a><\/use><\/svg>To the special coin<\/span><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-10878","magazin","type-magazin","status-publish","hentry","thema-special-coins"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sondermuenze.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin\/10878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sondermuenze.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sondermuenze.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/magazin"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.sondermuenze.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin\/10878\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11647,"href":"https:\/\/www.sondermuenze.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin\/10878\/revisions\/11647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sondermuenze.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}