History and heritage
GÜNTER & VERONIKA GRUBER
THE EARLY DAYS
Dr Günter Gruber, a commercial traveller with a passion for coins and banknotes, wows his friends with new discoveries he has brought home from his travels.
FROM A HOBBY TO A NEW CAREER
SETTING UP CIT
Günter Gruber establishes a company in the Liechtenstein capital of Vaduz, focusing on the wholesale business in Europe. Soon afterwards, CIT becomes the exclusive distributor for the US Mint, British Royal Mint and other renowned mints.
MAN OF THE FIRST HOUR
MICHAEL VOGT
A true all-rounder, Michael performs a number of different functions in the company – from warehouse management and shipping to sales and accounts.
FIRST PROJECT
SWISS SHOOTING THALER
Together with Hermann Häberling from Antiqua Trading, we launch a range of platinum and palladium medals.
THE TEAM GROWS
HEIMO STERITI
Originally CIT’s advisor at its house bank, Heimo Steriti joins the company and its small team led by Günter, Veronika and Michael.
IT
FIRST COMPUTER
The company acquires its first computer, an Intel 80286 with a 20 MB hard drive – a real technological triumph in these early days.
SUCCESSION
NEW OWNER MICHAEL VOGT
Günter and an his wife Veronika Gruber retire, leaving the company in Michael’s experienced hands. As CEO, he leads CIT into a new era.
COUNTRY CONTRACTS
MALTA, BAHAMAS AND MONGOLIA
Between 1993 and 1996, we sign minting contracts with Malta for ECU medals, with the Bahamas for the ‘Hole in One’ coin and with Mongolia for various mintages.
PARTNERSHIP
JOINING FORCES WITH BHM
Start of cooperation with B.H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH in Karlsfeld, Bavaria – the beginning of a real success story.
PRODUCT RANGE
THE TIFFANY COIN
The launch of the first ever coin with a glass inlay marks the start of a series that continues to this day.
INNOVATION
BEGINNING OF SMARTMINTING®
Together with B.H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH, we showcase the highly innovative minting technology smartminting® at the World Money Fair in Berlin – a veritable milestone in the coin market.
SUCCESSION
NEW CEO HEIMO STERITI
Michael moves to the Supervisory Board and reduces his hours, leaving the company management in the trusted hands of his long-standing business partner Heimo.
PRODUCT RANGE
SERIES COMMEMORATING 300 YEARS OF LIECHTENSTEIN
To mark the country’s 300th anniversary, the Liechtenstein postal service introduces a series of commemorative coins. CIT is proud to be production partner.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CIT
We have been dazzling coin enthusiasts everywhere for half a century. Many of our innovations are now industry standard. And a selection of our numismatic masterpieces can even be found in the British Museum in London.
SUCCESSION
NEW CEO JOHANN BERNER
As part of a long-planned succession process, Michael’s son-in-law Johann takes over as CEO, while Heimo is appointed President of the Supervisory Board. The new generation will remain true to the family company’s tradition.
COUNTRY CONTRACT
EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT WITH THE COOK ISLANDS
CIT becomes the exclusive partner to the Cook Islands, extending its original contract. This nation consists of 15 islands in the South Pacific off the coast of Australia. The Cook Islands are part of the British Commonwealth and their head of state is the British monarch.
