Released 7/6/2000

1931 Switzerland 5 franc. silver. First year issue. Weight reduced from 25g to 15g from previous issues Obverse has the message CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA latin for Helvetic Confederation. Helvetia, ancient Latin name for Switzerland, meaning the "territory of the Helvetii." In pre-Roman times the territory now known as Switzerland was inhabited by the Helvetii in the west and the Rhaetians, a people believed to have been related to the Etruscans, in the east. Julius Caesar and the Romans conquered the region, which they named Helvetia, in the 1st century BC, and it became thoroughly Romanized. The profile represents a swiss farmer. P BVRKHARD INCT which is stamped on the coin probably means "Engraved by P. Burkhard" in latin. There are raised letters around the rim with the latin phrase DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT - The Lord will provide. Up to 1926, Switzerland was a member of the Latin Monetary Union, which included France, Belgium and Italy. The currencies of these countries were interchangeable in an 1:1 ratio. This 5 franc coin design has remained until today, the only change being the replacement of silver with copper-nickel in 1968.