The Farinet Museum of Counterfeit Money occupies the Maison Stella Helvetica, in the heart of Saillon’s medieval village. It features old and recent counterfeit money, genuine Swiss currency and the life of the forger Joseph-Samuel Farinet.
Themed museums
Farinet Museum of Counterfeit Money
Main highlights
- The world of Farinet : mementos and objects of the Valais forger on display in the cellar
- Coins from every era, from the Gauls to the present day, with moulds and counterfeits
- Swiss banknote security features explained to show how forgers are fought
Overview
The museum is housed in a 17th-century village house, the Maison Stella Helvetica, in the historic centre of Saillon. It pays tribute to Joseph-Samuel Farinet, the most famous counterfeiter in Valais, and covers genuine money as well as fake.
Hunted by the Valais police while seeking refuge in Saillon, Farinet was found dead at the bottom of the Salentse gorge on 17 April 1880. Regarded as an outlaw, he was buried in Saillon, but outside the consecrated grounds of the cemetery. His figure has left a lasting mark on the Valais imagination.
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What to see and do
The section devoted to genuine money presents Swiss banknotes and their features, particularly those designed to prevent counterfeiting. Documents also illustrate the security systems of Swiss and European currency, along with an overview of banknote production techniques.
The counterfeit section brings together old fake coins, moulds and recent forgeries of varying skill, including material seized by the Valais cantonal police. Visitors can see numerous fake dollars and the counterfeit pounds sterling produced by the Germans during the Second World War to destabilise the economy. The penalties of the time are also presented.
In the cellar, display cases gather objects linked to Farinet and trace his eventful life and his pursuit by the authorities.
Practical information
Access : the museum is in Saillon’s historic centre, within walking distance of the village car parks.
Visit duration : allow about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
On site : small rooms on the ground floor and basement of an old Valais residence.
Languages : explanations in French, with much of it also in German.
Visiting tips
The museum is modest in size : take time to read the explanations on modern banknote security features, which will appeal to monetary history enthusiasts. To continue Farinet’s story, combine your visit with a walk through the village and on to the Salentse gorge.
Nearby
- Saillon Castle is a medieval remnant whose Bayart Tower overlooks the Rhône Valley.
- The Bains de Saillon is a thermal spa at the foot of the medieval village.
- The Farinet Footbridge spans the Salentze gorge at a height of 136 m, in tribute to the forger.
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