Switzerland's Shooting Talers for 2025 Continue a Long Tradition

The Swiss tradition of marksmanship was established during the old Swiss Confederacy in the 15th century, when festival participants used crossbows in shooting contests. The legend of William Tell recalls this tradition. In 2025 a Cantonal Shooting Festival will be held in the southern canton of Ticino over three consecutive weekends in July. Seven shooting associations in Alto Ticino will hold competitions in rifle and pistol shooting. Silver and gold versions of the traditional coins used to help mark and promote the event will be available in what has been a tradition since the 19th century.

The 50-franc silver proof coin with a mintage for 2025 of only 1,000 coins nearly always sells out. It is .900 fine silver, weighs 25 grams and is 37 millimeters (1.45 inches) in diameter. It costs $189.75.

The gold 500-franc has a much lower mintage of just 150 coins and is oversubscribed. The Coin & Currency Institute has an allocation based on orders from last year when gold was $1,000 per ounce lower. The coin is made of .999 fine gold and weighs ½ troy ounce. It is 33 millimeters (1.3 inches) in diameter. The price is $2,985.00 and is offered subject to availability.

The designs are identical except for the expression of value on the reverse. The obverse shows a profile view of Helvetia, the allegorical female representing Switzerland with a lion representing strength and courage to the right of the Italian legend Tiro Cantonale Ticinese (Ticino Cantonal Shooting Festival). The reverse shows an almost perfect duplication of the armed soldier on the Ticino 4 Franken silver coin of 1814 flanked by the Swiss and cantonal shields. Above the denomination are the words in Italian saying “convertible at the festival,” conveying their legal status.

Orders will be charged when shipped. Prices include the added 10% tariff imposed on all imports into the United States beginning in April. Coins will be available and shipped at the end of May. Should this tariff be rescinded before the items clear U.S. Customs, 10% will be deducted from the purchase price.

These issues may be obtained from the Coin & Currency Institute, P.O. Box 399, Williston, Vermont 05495. They can be viewed and ordered online at www.coin-currency.com. $8.75 should be added to each order for insured shipping and handling. Major credit cards are accepted. Call toll-free 1-800-421-1866. Fax (802) 536-4787. E-mail: mail@coin-currency.com.

Information from the Festival:

The 20th Ticino Cantonal Shooting Festival will return after a nine-year break and will take place over three consecutive weekends in July 2025 at the shooting ranges in Alto Ticino. The last edition was held in 2016 in the Mendrisiotto region. This event promises to be an important occasion for sporting competition and camaraderie for shooters from Ticino and across Switzerland.

The seven shooting associations will host competitions in rifle shooting (50 and 300 meters) and pistol shooting (25 and 50 meters). The host region has a strong tradition in shooting sports, further enhanced by the presence of a Ticinese marksman ranked among the world's best.

Despite being called the “Ticino Cantonal Shooting Festival,” the event welcomes participants from all over Switzerland. An attendance of around 8,000 to 9,000 people is expected, including enthusiasts from German-speaking Switzerland and Romandy. In 2025, three shooting festivals will be held nationwide, with the Ticino edition set to be an unmissable highlight.

A noteworthy innovation will be the introduction of a digital shooting record, accessible via smartphone, which will streamline the management of the competitions. Alongside the contests, the festival will also offer side events and tourist initiatives for both visitors and local residents. Active community involvement will be crucial, with volunteer opportunities and the participation of middle school students playing a key role.