In May 1967, the United States of America stopped the sale of silver from the federal reserves. This caused the silver price to rise; in March 1968 it amounted to 350 francs per kilogram. As a result the silver value of the Swiss 1-, 2- and 5-francs coins, which still consisted of silver at that time, was all of a sudden higher than their face value. Hence these coins disappeared from circulation. In 1968 the Swiss mint began therefore to issue coins from base metals. Since that time the 2-francs coin are made of cupronickel.