The Gutenberg Museum of Fribourg, in Switzerland, presents a temporary exhibition, on the history of Swiss banknotes and on the history of their counterfeiting, until August 31st, 2012.

The permanent exhibition of the museum, achieved in cooperation with the Swiss national Bank, presents a panorama of Swiss banknotes, from the first banknotes issued in 1825, to those used nowadays.

The visitor can discover the reserve collection designed by Roger Pfund which would have been issued in 1995 in Switzerland, had a counterfeiting problem aroused. Pfund was also a banknote illustrator for the Banque de France, and conceived the last French franc banknote collection before the introduction of the euro.

Until August 31st, 2012, the temporary exhibition “Counterfeiting” completes the permanent collection. Lent by the Berne Federal Police, historical counterfeit banknotes are exposed.

Those made by Hansjörg Mühlematter, known as one of the main counterfeiters in the Swiss history, are also presented in the exhibition.

The various security devices present in Swiss banknotes - up to 17 - are explained to the visitors. Tips are also given to identify counterfeit banknotes, naked-eyed, by verifying 5 of the 17 security signs.

For further information, please visit the Gutenberg Museum’s website.
 


Explore also...

Published on 06 March 2012. Updated on 12 September 2019