Floating art instead of silver coins
Timo EichlerWuppertal will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the suspension railway in 2026, and preparations are in full swing. However, the planned official 20-euro silver coin has been halted by the Federal Ministry of Finance. The reason for the cancellation shortly before publication is the sharp rise in the price of silver.1
The year 2026 is fast approaching, and Wuppertal is preparing for a very special anniversary: 125 years of the Wuppertal Suspension Railway. This historic event will be celebrated in style, and a range of exclusive anniversary products will be released to mark the occasion. Unfortunately, however, one of the most eagerly anticipated souvenirs has now been dealt a blow.
Originally, an official German 20-euro silver coin was planned to honor the iconic landmark. Coin collectors and Wuppertal enthusiasts had already made firm plans for the release, which was scheduled for early 2026. But now comes the bad news: the Federal Ministry of Finance has put the coin's release on hold for the time being due to the sharp rise in the price of silver, according to a report in the online edition of Der Spiegel on October 25, 2025.1
This is undoubtedly a bitter loss for everyone who had hoped for a traditional souvenir of lasting value to commemorate this unique anniversary. The decision, although made out of economic necessity and understandable, leaves a void in the hearts of many suspension railway enthusiasts and, of course, in ours as well. Whether and when the coin will be issued after all, or perhaps at a different face value, is currently still unclear. We will report here in the magazine if there are any new developments.
But there is also good news, of course: we believe that our visually striking alternative perfectly captures the spirit of the anniversary: the special edition Alu-Dibond „125 Jahre Wuppertaler Schwebebahn" in the ART EDITION. And this is not only announced, but already available—and you don't need silver coins to pay for it..
A modern and stylish way to bring the fascination of the suspension railway into your home. Each wall mural shows one of the striking suspension railway stations (such as the Adlerbrücke) with a suspension railway pulling in. The highlight: the motifs combine black-and-white photography with selective color accents and are available in ten different background colors. The combination of the modern Generation 15 (G15 for short) suspension railway on modern aluminum Dibond, the various background colors, and the main motif in black and white is something very special and bridges the gap between old and modern.
Even though we shed more than a few tears over the canceled coin, our aluminum Dibond images offer a bright and contemporary alternative to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary of the “floating” icon. They are the best proof that Wuppertal always finds a way to rise above things—even when faced with last-minute changes.
You can find all versions of this special edition in our collection and on our anniversary website 125-jahre-schwebebahn.de
Featured image: BVA, Hans-Joachim Wuthenow, Berlin - "Bild der 20-Euro-Gedenkmünze 125 Jahre Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, entworfen von Heinz Hoyer (Bildseite) und Bodo Broschat (Wertseite), veröffentlicht vom Bundesministerium der Finanzen."
