News 
Swissmint, the Swiss Currency Centre, pays tribute to Karl Elsener (1860-1918), the visionary founder of the Victorinox company, by striking a “Swiss Army Knife” silver coin in honour of the 100th anniversary of his death.
The director of the federal mint is producing a limited edition of 30,000 coins, of which 8,000 are part of a Victorinox box set. The latter, which also contains a Swiss Army Knife Huntsman and a certificate of authenticity, will be available worldwide and will constitute a gift of choice for fans of the brand during the festive period.
Designed by Swiss illustrator and graphic designer Nadja Baltensweiler, the 20-franc coin shows a Swiss Army Knife whose tools are deployed in front of the superb landscape of the Swiss Alps.
In 1884, Karl Elsener founded a cutlery workshop in Ibach with the help of his mother, laying the foundations of a true success story. His pioneering spirit, courage and energy enabled the company to survive a difficult economic period in its early days. In 1891, he founded the Swiss Association of Master Cutlers and was able to provide the first major delivery of soldiers’ knives to the Swiss army. It was extremely robust, but also quite heavy and Karl Elsener therefore designed a different model for officers that was lighter and more elegant, to which he added a corkscrew. In 1897, this “Officer’s and Sports knife” was officially registered. The idea of a multi-functional tool was born.
October 18, 2018