Weekly World Coin Post: BELGIUM

With only 9 days left out here in the Gulf of Mexico before returning to my dirt digging past time, I bring you a brief entry on the coins of Belgium.

Belgium has seen its currency change many times in the past 3 hundred years. Currently part of the EU, and using the Euro, it's last sovereign currency was the Belgian Franc, BEF. If you would like to read more about the history of Belgian currency, please click HERE.

One interesting side not I found in regards to Belgian coins, was that during WWII, when many countries opted for cheaper metals to manufacture coins (like the US making Steel Cents in 1943), Belgium had 25 million 2 Franc coins minted in the US using leftover blank planchets from the '43 Steel Wheaties. A very curious fact in my opinion.

Another thing to note is that much of their currency, the legend might be in either French, or Dutch, as the country has very large populations of both. So the countries name, Belgium, may read Belgie, or Belgique.

TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT (Both pics):

1953 50 Centimes Bronze 19mm
1977 1 Fran Copper-Nickel 21mm
1959 1 Franc Copper-Nickel 21mm
1950 1 Franc Copper-Nickel 21mm

BOTTOM ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

1950 5 Francs Copper-Nickel 24mm
1962 5 Francs Copper-Nickel 24mm
1966 5 Francs Copper-Nickel 24mm

All of these coins were issued during the reign of King Baudouin I. On Belgian coins one might find common symbols such as the helmeted Miner on the 50 Centimes coin. Belgium was one of the first European companies to really thrive in the industrial age, and mining was a huge money maker. Mostly coal and zinc. Also you many times see the bust of a Laureate facing left, which has come to signify eminence or association with literary or military glory.