Swiss 5 Francs 1949 UPU

The Swiss 1949 UPU coin was struck to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union, an organization that finally standardized international mail rates and routes after centuries of postal chaos.

This silver 20-franc piece features a globe encircled by olive branches on one side and a Swiss cross on the other, with the inscription reflecting the UPU's founding in Bern. It was minted in Bern, using alloys typical of the era, though exact compositions varied slightly between proofs and circulation strikes. Mintage numbers aren't precisely known; Swiss archives from that period are incomplete due to wartime disruptions.

Collectors often overlook that these coins were distributed to UPU member nations, not just sold domestically. That meant they ended up in unlikely places, like a diplomat's desk in Tokyo. As for myths, no, it won't make your letters arrive faster—though it might make you wish it did.