Switzerland - 20 francs Silver Swiss Aviation, 2025

Pioneers of Swiss aviation. Aviation in Switzerland began with pioneering balloonists at the end of the 19th century. In 1897, the Federal Council decided to set up a Swiss airship company, ten years after military airships had become established in Europe. Before that, pioneers like Eduard Spelterini and the Piccard brothers had made the first balloon test flights for the army. With the outbreak of the First World War and the development of modern air forces, the importance of balloons waned; in 1937, the balloon corps was dissolved. The series begins with the 20-franc coin "Pioneers of Swiss aviation", which shows the early days when hot-air ballons first started to conquer the skies.