1-franc coin - Léopold II - 50th anniversary of independence

The coin's story

This silver 1 franc coin commemorates the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence (1830-1880). The anniversary was celebrated with a national exhibition open in Brussels from 16 June to 1 October 1880, which attracted about 1.5 million visitors, it was set up on the former parade ground, which would become the Parc du Cinquantenaire. The obverse superimposes the profiles of the first two kings, Leopold I and Leopold II, below a star. The portrait is the work of Léopold Wiener (1823-1891), chief engraver of the Brussels Mint for more than forty years, who signs L. WIENER. Its fineness of 835 thousandths follows the rules of the Latin Monetary Union, concluded in 1865 with France, Italy and Switzerland for the smaller silver denominations. The coin was struck in 545,222 pieces and demonetised on 30 July 1932.