(Bloomberg) -- A commemorative silver coin depicting tennis champion Roger Federer is proving so popular that it's crippling the website of Switzerland's mint.
The coin, with a face value of 20 francs ($20), is the first by the federal mint with a living person on it. Featuring the 38-year-old Swiss Grand Slam-winner holding a tennis racket, it was offered for sale on Monday.
Demand has exceeded expectations, with Swissmint's retail website buckling just hours after the start of the offering, its Chief Executive Officer Marius Haldimann said.
“As well as being probably Switzerland's most successful individual sportsman, he is also the perfect ambassador for Switzerland,” the mint said.
The mint, which is selling the coins for 30 francs each, is making 60,000 but could raise that to 100,000 if necessary.
There is a consolation prize for those missing out: the mint plans to issue a Federer-themed gold coin in May of next year.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jan Dahinten in Zurich at jdahinten@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jan Dahinten at jdahinten@bloomberg.net, Catherine Bosley
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