The latest gold coin from the Swiss Mint celebrates an event that probably should have taken place considerably sooner than it did. In 1971, after having rejected the notion just a dozen years before, the Swiss people finally decided to let women have the right to vote. Seems amazing that in a progressive European country like Switzerland that this only happened fifty years ago, but I guess you learn something new every day!

The coin weighs 11.29 grams and is struck in 0.900 gold. It depicts a woman, possibly Emilie Lieberherr, the figurehead of the movement to gain the vote, placing her ballot. It’s neat enough and the Swiss Mint must have had high expectations, as the mintage is set at 5,000 pieces. As it has sold out, it seems they were correct.

PRESS: “Women’s efforts to achieve equal political rights date back to the 19th century. In 1959, two-thirds of the men voted against women’s suffrage, thus proclaiming a clear “no”. But Swiss women did not give up their fight and like-minded women increasingly joined forces. The figurehead of this dynamic women’s movement was Emilie Lieberherr, who called on her female comrades to march on Bern. Determined and equipped with banners, around 5,000 women from all over Switzerland demonstrated on the Bundesplatz in the early afternoon of 1 March 1969. On 7 February 1971, men in Switzerland were called to the polls a second time for a federal vote on introducing women’s suffrage. There was a clear majority in favour, paving the way for Swiss women to be able to have their say in future elections and votes. Thus, the Sunday on which the vote was held became one of the most important political milestones in Swiss history and the day on which Swiss women were given a voice. In the subsequent National Council elections in October 1971, eleven women were elected. Over the years that followed, the proportion of women in the National Council grew steadily, and currently stands at 42%.”

LINKS: SWISS MINT