5 francs 1873 Leopold II King of the Belgians

The coin's story

This 5 francs coin in 900 thousandths silver belongs to the series struck from 1865 to 1878 in the name of Leopold II, King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909, more than 70 million pieces were produced. It follows the rules of the Latin Monetary Union, concluded on 23 December 1865 with France, Italy and Switzerland, which reserved 900 thousandths silver for the 5 francs coins. For nearly a century, this coin was the reference coin of the Belgian system, its striking nevertheless had to be stopped as early as 1876. The portrait is the work of Léopold Wiener (1823-1891), born in Venlo, who joined the Brussels Mint in 1847 and was chief engraver for more than forty years, and who signs LEOP WIENER. The 1873 date was struck in 22,340,959 pieces. It exists with the word PROTEGE on the edge more or less spaced (27 or 31 mm). The coin was demonetised on 30 July 1932.