2021 16.70g Switzerland Silver Illusion - Viaduct of Life PP

You're looking for information on a particularly artistic and intriguing Swiss commemorative coin. Here's a detailed description of the 2021 Switzerland Silver 20 Francs "Illusion – Viaduct of Life" Proof (PP) coin:

Coin Details:

Year of Issue: 2021

Country: Switzerland (Swiss Confederation)

Denomination: 20 Swiss Francs (CHF)

Commemorative Subject: "Illusion – The Bridge of Life" (or "Viaduct of Life"). This coin is part of a series that explores optical illusions and the concept of "illusorism," an art form perfected by Swiss artist Sandro Del-Prete. The design is based on Del-Prete's well-known oil painting, "The Bridge of Life."

Composition: Silver (.835 fine silver). This means the coin is 83.5% pure silver and 16.5% other metals (typically copper).

Weight: 20 grams (g) total weight.

Your stated 16.70g refers to the actual fine silver content of the coin (20g x 0.835 = 16.70g). This is the standard way to denote the pure silver weight.

Condition: PP (Proof). This is the highest quality of coin production. Proof coins are struck multiple times on specially prepared and polished planchets using highly polished dies. This process results in a stunning mirror-like field (the flat background) and a frosted, sharply detailed relief (the raised design elements). Proof coins are collector's items, typically sold in special protective capsules and elegant presentation boxes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA), and are not intended for general circulation.

Design Description:

Obverse (Value Side): Designed by Roland Hirter, the obverse features standard Swiss coinage elements:

A small Swiss Cross slightly above the center.

The numeral "20" for the value and the language-neutral abbreviation "FR" for the denomination (Francs) below the center.

The mint mark "B" of Swissmint (formerly the Bern Mint) is positioned between the value and denomination.

In concentric circles, the inscription "CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA" (Latin for "Swiss Confederation") and the date of issue: "2021".

Reverse (Commemorative Side - "Illusion – Viaduct of Life"): This is the highlight of the coin, featuring Sandro Del-Prete's iconic painting.

It depicts "The Bridge of Life", an allegory of life represented as a seemingly never-ending circular stone bridge with an illusory direction.

People of various ages are shown walking on top of the bridge, always moving forward towards the observer and never seen from behind. This visual trick, according to Del-Prete, symbolizes that "no one gets younger as time passes, so no one can be seen from behind either," illustrating the mystery of the past, present, and future.

The foundations of the bridge are depicted as crumbling, adding a poignant touch to the allegory.

The artist's signature, Sandro Del-Prete, is typically included on this side.

Edge Inscription: The edge of the coin is plain and inscribed with the motto "DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT" (The Lord will provide – a quote from the Bible, Genesis 22:8) and thirteen stars representing the original thirteen cantons of the Swiss Federation.

Technical Specifications:

Diameter: 33 mm

Mintage:

The 2021 "Illusion – The Bridge of Life" 20 Francs silver coin had a total Proof mintage of 5,000 pieces.

A very special variant, limited to 250 pieces, was also released with the artist's signature.

(For comparison, 20,000 Brilliant Uncirculated pieces were also minted, including 1,000 in folders).

This coin is highly sought after by collectors due to its unique artistic concept, the master's "illusorism" technique, and its limited availability, especially in Proof quality. It's a testament to the blend of art and numismatics.