Belgium 1 frank 1904 - Leopold II Koning der Belgen

The coin's story

This silver 1 franc coin belongs to the series struck from 1904 to 1909, the last years of the reign of Leopold II, King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. 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 portrait is the work of Thomas Vinçotte (1850-1925), a sculptor and medallist close to the court of Leopold II, whose name appears below the neck. This version bears the Dutch legend LEOPOLD II KONING DER BELGEN, the coin also exists in French. The 1904 date, the first of the series, was struck in 803,000 pieces. The coin was demonetised on 30 July 1932.