Belgium 5 francs 1870 - Leopold II

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 1870 date was struck in 10,468,075 pieces. The coin was demonetised on 30 July 1932.