The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Roger Federer commemorative coin pre-sale ‘sold out’

federer coins
Born in Basel in 1981, Roger Federer has won more Grand Slam men’s singles titles than any tennis player. Swissmint

Swissmint's pre-sale of its commemorative coin on Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer is already closed. The reason: sky high global demand.

“The pre-sale quantity of 33,000 pieces of the Roger Federer silver coin is sold out. The coins are no longer available on the webshop,” Swissmint saidExternal link on Thursday.

“On the day of issue of 23 January, a remaining quantity of 22,000 pieces and higher quality coins (“proof-quality” and “folder”) will be put on sale. A further 40,000 Roger Federer silver coins will be issued in May 2020,” it added.

The online shop was visited by 12.9 million people in just three days, at times causing the site to crash.  Swissmint said it had anticipated a high demandExternal link but the level was unprecedented.

Swissmint is issuing two coins to celebrate Federer – the first living person to receive the honour: a 20-franc silver coin, which will have an issue date of January 23, 2020 and second coin with a different design – the “Roger Federer” 50-franc gold coin – which will come in May.

Knowing the coin would be popular, Swissmint launched for the first time a pre-sale of an “uncirculated quality” of the coin, which cost CHF30 ($30). The idea was for the sale to run from December 2-19.

Ambassador

When it announced the coins on Sunday, Swissmint said Federer was the best-known Swiss person both on and off the court. In addition to his countless tennis records, including the most grand slam men’s singles titles, he also runs a charitable foundation for children in southern Africa and was the first Swiss UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Above all, SwissmintExternal link writes, Federer is “the perfect ambassador for Switzerland. He has a unique way of embodying likeability, down-to-earthness, success and eloquence”.

External Content

Swissmint has occasionally introduced commemorative coins celebrating Swiss historical events, people and organisations. In 2019, commemorative coins were dedicated to the Apollo 11 moon landing and the centenary of the Circus Knie.

More

Popular Stories

News

Local radio/TV stations to receive more funding

More

Swiss democracy

Local radio/TV stations to receive more funding

This content was published on Switzerland’s Senate has approved a plan to give local radio and TV stations a larger share of the licence fee, endorsing a slightly revised draft already backed by the House of Representatives.

Read more: Local radio/TV stations to receive more funding
Karin Keller-Sutter makes the case for gender equality at the UN

More

Foreign Affairs

Karin Keller-Sutter makes the case for gender equality at the UN

This content was published on Gender equality is a universal right and a catalyst for economic development, Karin Keller-Sutter told the United Nations in New York on Monday. Yet recent crises have set it back.

Read more: Karin Keller-Sutter makes the case for gender equality at the UN
Talks between pharma and government stall

More

Pharma supply chains

Talks between pharma and Swiss government stall

This content was published on Discussions between pharma and the Federal Council on Monday evening failed to produce a clear solution to the US customs policy. Economy Minister Guy Parmelin spoke of "constructive" discussions, but did not offer any concrete suggestions.

Read more: Talks between pharma and Swiss government stall
Jet fighters, 63% of the Swiss want to vote again

More

Swiss democracy

Poll: 63% of Swiss want to vote again on fighter jet procurement

This content was published on Two out of three Swiss people want to vote again on the purchase of a jet for the air force, according to a representative poll published today by the information portal Infosperber.

Read more: Poll: 63% of Swiss want to vote again on fighter jet procurement

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR