May 29, 2014 – On 22 May 2014, the Federal Mint Swissmint launched the sale of two new commemorative coins for collectors and enthusiasts. The silver coin is dedicated to the Swiss national card game ‘Jass’, while the central theme of the gold coin is the 100th anniversary of the Swiss National Park.
Switzerland / 20 CHF / Silver .835 / 20g / 33mm / Design: Roland Hirter / Mintage: 7,000 (Proof), 50,000 (standard coinage uncirculated).
Traditional values are currently very fashionable. So it is not surprising that the Jass card game is becoming increasingly popular. No other leisure pursuit brings generations together to the same extent as the popular Swiss card game. A game of Jass can be played almost everywhere, be it in a pub, a mountain hut, on a train or in many other places. The types of Jass are just as diverse. The most popular form of Jass, is known as ‘Schieber’ and is the classic game, while the supreme discipline is called ‘Differenzler’.
German cards. Source: Wikicommons.
The linguistic and cultural diversity of Switzerland is perfectly reflected in Jass. The game is played with French cards (hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs) to the west of the Brünig-Napf-Reuss line, as well as in the cantons of Ticino and Grisons, and with German cards (Schellen, Schilten, Rosen, Eicheln – bells, shields, roses, acorns) to the east of the line.
The Federal Mint Swissmint is honouring this popular card game with the second commemorative coin in the ‘Swiss nation sports’ series. The ‘Jass’ coin was designed by the Bernese graphic artist Roland Hirter.
Switzerland / 50 CHF / Gold .900 / 11.29g / 25mm / Design: Stephan Bundi / Mintage: 6,000.
The Swiss National Park (SNP) will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014. Visionary pioneers from the Swiss Nature Conservation Committee made their dream come true by creating an ‘open-air laboratory’ where a piece of Swiss mountain landscape could develop free from human influence. This move was justified by the radical social change of the 19th century and the invasive development of tourism at the beginning of the 20th century, which had clearly left their mark.
The Swiss National Park. Photo: Hansueli Krapf / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0
The objectives of the Swiss National Park have not changed since then: strict conservation with a non-interference approach, scientific documentation and research, as well as increased environmental education and public relations work in recent years.
The obverse side of Swissmint’s gold anniversary coin, designed by Stephan Bundi, shows Trupchun Valley. Renowned for its wealth of fauna, this high-lying valley attracts many visitors to the national park during the deer mating season.
If you understand German this website is for you if you are looking for more information on the Jass card game.
Here you can learn how to play ‘Schieber Jass’.
Further information on the anniversary of the Swiss National Park can be found at the park’s website.
And here you will come directly to the Swissmint.