Switzerland. New Silver Proof Coins Focus on Innovative Swiss Physics Laboratory

The topic focuses on CERN, an acronym for the French phrase Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire and is translated as the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. It is the largest particle physics laboratory in the world which is based in Geneva on the French-Swiss border. At the time of the organisation’s founding, pure physics research concentrated on understanding the inside of the atom, hence the word ‘nuclear’. Founded and ratified by a treaty in 1954 by 12 countries in Western Europe, today it is an international organization with 24 member states whose mission is to explore the fundamental laws of the universe by studying the smallest components of matter, particles.

The coin’s subject focuses on a flagship machine at CERN, which is considered a leading instrument for research and innovation in Switzerland. CERN's Large Hadron Collider or, LHC is the largest particle accelerator in the world. In this ring, which has a circumference of 27 kilometres, protons are accelerated to almost the speed of light and then caused to collide. The analysis of these collisions provides deeper insights into the fundamental structure of matter and how the universe works.  It is the Large Hadron Collider that was used to study the after effects and recreating conditions similar to those shortly after the Big Bang, a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature.

The obverse of the coin shows one of these collisions, which creates a multitude of particles, some of which were present at the very beginning of the universe, shortly after the Big Bang. Below these particles is the inscription in English UNIVERSE OF PARTICLES along with CERN placed below. The reverse shows an image of the magnets from the Large Hadron Collider which is centred. These superconducting magnets are technological masterpieces which generate very strong magnetic fields to guide and concentrate the particle beams in the ring. The text CONFŒDERATIO HELVETICA representing the Latin name for Switzerland is placed along the rim surrounding the primary design with the year 2025 and the B mintmark denoting the Mint in Berne. The denomination 20 FR is shown along the lower rim below the primary design. The coins include the raised edge inscription in Latin DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT (The Lord will provide) along with thirteen five-pointed stars.

Available from the 13^th March, the BU coin is available in a blister-pak presentation folder with illustrations and information about the coin’s subject. The proof versions are encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a numbered certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the webshop of Special coins, the retail online webshop of the Swiss Mint.