Image:50 CHF.jpg

The image above depicts a unit of currency of a government. Some currency designs are ineligible for copyright and are in the public domain. Others are copyrighted. In these cases, their use on Wikipedia is contended to be fair use when they are used for the purposes of commentary or criticism relating to the image of the currency itself. Any other usage of them, on Wikipedia or elsewhere, may be copyright infringement See Copyrights for more information.

This picture was scanned by myself.

The image above depicts a unit of currency of Switzerland.

The reproduction and imitation of banknotes is prohibited in Switzerland according to Art. 243 of the Penal Code if there is a danger of the reproduction being confused with genuine banknotes. The sole responsibility for interpreting and applying this provision of law is vested in the cantonal criminal prosecution authorities, and the Swiss National Bank therefore has no right of disposition in this respect. In the interests of legal security and equal treatment, the Swiss National Bank has listed – by way of example – in the «Instruction sheet concerning the reproduction of banknotes» those reproductions that it does not consider likely to be confused with real banknotes and to which, therefore, the provisions of criminal law do not apply. snb.ch

Notes may be considered to be admissable as follows [2]:

1. Reduced-size reproductions whose lengths do not exceed 66% of the original banknote.
2. Enlarged reproductions whose lengths are at least 150% that of the original banknote.
3. Partial reproductions of any size provided less than 40 percent of one side of the original banknote is reproduced.
4. Reproductions on a material which can unambiguously and easily be distinguished from paper (reproductions on foodstuffs and hard products such as metal, glass, stone, wood, etc.).
5. Reproductions of a colour which is readily distinguishable from that of any banknotes currently in use as legal tender.

It is believed that Swiss notes can be displayed on Wikipedia if they meet criteria 1 and are overprinted with "specimen" or something similar.

Swiss currency is not protected by copyright:

Banknotes are not protected by the Swiss Federal Copyright Statute. However, individual works reproduced on banknotes are subject to copyright protection provided they have not been reproduced recognisably as a part of the banknote. The works protected under copyright law may only be reproduced and adapted with the permission of the copyright holder.

This image is from or of: a law, ordinance, international treaty or other official act a decision, protocol or report by public authorities a piece of currency a patent or patent application of Switzerland or the Swiss cantons. It is therefore not protected by copyright by virtue of Art. 5 of the Swiss Copyright Act. Dieses Bild stellt Folgendes dar oder entstammt Folgendem: Schweizer Gesetze, Verordnungen, völkerrechtliche Verträge und andere amtliche Erlasse Schweizer Zahlungsmittel Schweizer Entscheidungen, Protokolle und Berichte von Behörden und öffentlichen Verwaltungen Schweizer Patentschriften und veröffentlichte Patentgesuche Es ist damit urheberrechtlich nicht geschützt (Art. 5 URG).