10 Francs "Swiss National Park - Ibex" 2007

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The bimetal coin 2007 'Swiss National Park – Ibex' at a glance

Date of issue: 19 January 2007
Design: Gian Vonzun, Pratval
Coin image: Ibex
Legal face value: 10 Swiss francs
Alloy: Cupronickel + Aluminium Bronze
Weight: 15 g
Diameter: 33 mm (Core 23 mm/Outer ring 33 mm)
Uncirculated: Max. 96,000 of which 16,000 pieces in coin sets
Proof: Max. 12,000 of which 4,000 pieces in coin set

Swiss National Park – Ibex 2007
The ibex originates from the arid regions between the Himalayas and Asia Minor. The alternation of ice ages and interglacial periods forced the animals to wander far from their native region, ending up in Africa and the Alps, among other places.

The most striking feature of the ibex are its horns, which are present on both males and females and grow throughout its life. Ibex live mainly on mountainsides above the tree line and only very rarely descend into the forests. During migration from the high altitude summer ranges to the winter ranges, ibex, in particular the males cover long distances.

The ibex started disappearing from Grisons as long ago as 1650 and was considered extinct in Switzerland in 1809. Its lack of fear of human beings, and the medicinal properties attributed to its flesh and horns, were its undoing. At the beginning of the 20th century, some of the last remaining ibex were poached from a herd belonging to the Italian king Vittorio Emanuele and smuggled into Switzerland. In 1920 the first ibex bred from these animals were released in the National Park. In recent years the ibex population has grown to between 250 and 450.

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Definitive Auflage:
unz. 64200 Münzen
PP. 6300 Münzen