English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 4 Regular issue coinage
1 The Confederation may operate a federal mint. 2 The Confederation shall mint and issue regular issue coins in order to meet demand for payment transactions. 3 The Federal Council shall decide which regular issue coins are to be minted, put into circulation or withdrawn from circulation. 4 The Federal Council shall decide on the design and the features of regular issue coins. It shall determine the denominations in agreement with the Swiss National Bank. 5 The Federal Council shall regulate in an ordinance the exchange of coins by public cash offices of the Confederation and the elimination of damaged, worn and counterfeit coins.
Para. 5 — Amended by No I of the FA of 21 June 2019 (Time Limit for Exchanging Banknotes), in force since 1 Jan. 2020 (AS 2019 3769; BBl 2018 1097).
Art. 4a Commercial services
1 The Federal Mint may provide commercial services to third parties provided these services: a. are closely connected with its main tasks; b. do not impede fulfilment of the main tasks; and c. do not require any significant additional material or human resources. 2 Commercial services shall be provided on the basis of a cost and performance accounting system at cost-covering prices as a minimum. The department responsible may authorise exceptions for certain services where there is no private sector competition.
Art. 4a — Inserted by Annex No 5 of the FA of 19 June 2015 (Optimisation of the New Accounting Model), in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 4009; BBl 2014 9329).
Art. 5 Provision of coinage
1 The National Bank shall provide the required quantities of regular issue coins for payment transactions and shall take back without restriction the coins no longer needed against reimbursement of the nominal value. 2 In order to guarantee the supply of cash, the National Bank may issue regulations on the manner, place and time for the receipt and delivery of coins. 3 Destroyed, lost and counterfeit coins shall not be replaced.
Art. 6 Commemorative coins and bullion coins
1 For numismatic requirements and investment purposes, the Confederation may mint special quality regular issue coins, as well as commemorative coins and bullion coins. These coins may be issued above nominal value. 2 The responsible government department shall decide on the nominal values, designs and features of commemorative coins and bullion coins. It shall also decide what commemorative coins and bullion coins are to be minted, issued and taken out of circulation.
Para. 2 — Currently the Federal Department of Finance.