Liechtenstein frank
Encyclopedia
The Swiss Frank has been the currency
of Liechtenstein since 1920. The Swiss franc
is legal tender since Liechtenstein
is in a customs
and monetary union with Switzerland. The 1980 treaty between Switzerland and Liechtenstein allows Liechtenstein to mint Swiss franc coins, but not to issue banknotes.
Liechtenstein used the Austrian Krone
and Heller until 1920 , and switched to the Swiss franc due to the krone's instability.
Liechtenstein coins are so rare that they do not actually circulate, and no banknotes have been issued, with the exception of 3 emergency issues of "Heller" in 1920 . Most of the Liechtenstein frank coins have the same amount of precious metal as the Swiss franc
, except for the coins minted in the late 1980s and 1990s.
The highest number of coins minted was the 1 frank minted in 1924; 60,000 were struck, but 45,355 were melted. If the number of melted coins is excluded, the highest mintage would be the 50 franken minted in 1988 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the reign of Prince Franz Joseph II
and the 10 franken minted in 1990 commemorating the succession of Prince Hans-Adam II
. Both number 35,000.
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
of Liechtenstein since 1920. The Swiss franc
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
is legal tender since Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
is in a customs
Customs union
A customs union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with a common external tariff. The participant countries set up common external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import quotas...
and monetary union with Switzerland. The 1980 treaty between Switzerland and Liechtenstein allows Liechtenstein to mint Swiss franc coins, but not to issue banknotes.
Liechtenstein used the Austrian Krone
Austro-Hungarian krone
The Krone or korona was the official currency of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1892 until the dissolution of the empire in 1918...
and Heller until 1920 , and switched to the Swiss franc due to the krone's instability.
Liechtenstein coins are so rare that they do not actually circulate, and no banknotes have been issued, with the exception of 3 emergency issues of "Heller" in 1920 . Most of the Liechtenstein frank coins have the same amount of precious metal as the Swiss franc
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
, except for the coins minted in the late 1980s and 1990s.
The highest number of coins minted was the 1 frank minted in 1924; 60,000 were struck, but 45,355 were melted. If the number of melted coins is excluded, the highest mintage would be the 50 franken minted in 1988 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the reign of Prince Franz Joseph II
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, , was the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein from 1938 until his death...
and the 10 franken minted in 1990 commemorating the succession of Prince Hans-Adam II
Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Hans-Adam II , is the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein. He is the son of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Georgina von Wilczek . He also bears the titles Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg...
. Both number 35,000.