Circa 100 anni fa la famiglia Knie presentava per la prima volta il suo spettacolo davanti a migliaia di persone a Berna. Per celebrare l'avvenimento la zecca federale Swissmint ha emesso una moneta commemorativa.
Il celebre clown è stato disegnato nel 1956 dal grafico pubblicitario Herbert Leupin
Le origini del Circo Knie risalgono all'inizio del XIX secolo, quando Friedrich Knie si unì a un gruppo di artisti dando di fatto il via alla saga della dinastia, ma è di 100 anni fa l'evento determinante che assicurò alla famiglia un successo senza precedenti: il capostipite chiese un prestito per acquistare il tendone nel quale il 14 giugno 1919 fu messo in scena il primo spettacolo di fronte a 3'000 persone alla Schützenmatte di Berna. La rappresentazione riscosse un enorme successo di pubblico e fu il punto di partenza per una delle compagnie circensi più celebri al mondo.
Per celebrare la ricorrenza, Swissmint ha emesso una moneta commemorativa d’argento dal valore nominale di 20 franchi con un motivo colorato raffigurante il celebre clown disegnato nel 1956 dal grafico pubblicitario Herbert Leupin.
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