A curious thing about Swiss' colurful money - the Swiss-franc (sFr or CHF) - is that instead of past heads of state and monarchy, the faces which grace the bills are of composers, artists and sculptors. The bills feature their popular artworks and the typical holographic and perforated security features. In that small diamond at each of the portrait heads is also a small text of the person in the tiniest font.
This tiny font is counterbalanced by the size of the 5 franc coin. The 5 franc coin is the Goliath of all coin currencies. It is so large that you will surely do a double-take the first time you hold one. Here is a picture I took of a 5 franc coin which I put it next to a euro-cent for dramatic effect.
It's size is so crazy that I wouldn't blame you if you kept one as a souvenir. Or used one to kill enemies in a game of bloody knuckles.
If you have ever been to Switzerland, you would probably agree that part of the Swiss culture is "having cash". Sounds weird? Let me explain.
If you walked into a bakery and bought something for 1.75 and only had a 100 bill to pay with, Switzerland might be the only place I know of where there is a 100% guarantee that there will be sufficient change and that all bills would be accepted with a smile. Only have a 1000CHF bill for you 30CHF purchase? No problem!
In Switzerland, you never need to feel guilty by paying small amounts using big bills.
Maybe that's because few things here are cheap.
