Quick Coinage Facts
Number of Types: 2
Years Minted: 1904-1910
Composition: 0.8350 silver
Diameter Type: 23 mm
Weight: 5 grams (0.1342 ounces of silver)
Total Series Mintage: 6,106,000
Obverse Design: Bust Design
Reverse Design: Wreath Design
Introduction
The Belgium Franc was minted for only two years (1904 & 1909) with an 83.5% silver content and was minted at the Brussels Mint. Like most Belgium coins of the time, two different types were issued for circulation where one used legends in French and the other with legends in Flemish (Dutch):
Type 1 – French
Type 2 - Dutch
Design
Engraved by Th. Vincotte, the obverse design features a bust image of Leopold II facing left. Just beneath Leopold’s neck is the engravers name “TH. VINCOTTE”. On the outer periphery in French (type 1 coins) is the phrase “LEOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES” or in Dutch (type 2 coins) is the phrase “LEOPOLD II KONING DER BELGEN”, both phrases translated to English read “LEOPOLD II KING OF THE BELGIANS”.
The reverse design features a wreath design that encloses the denomination & year of issue. As a footnote, the denomination in French is spelled “FRANC” while in Dutch “FRANK”.
| Obverse | Reverse |
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Varieties
Though only issued for two years varieties do exist for both Dutch & French issues. The designer’s signature (below the obverse bust image) was featured with and without a period:
Variety 1 – with period (TH. VINCOTTE)
Variety 2 – without period (TH VINCOTTE)
| Obverse with Period |
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Market Notes
There are no rarities for the series.
