Between the years 1832 and 2002, the currency of the Kingdom of Belgium was known as the Belgian franc. The Euro currency was first used in 2002. It was broken down into 100 smaller parts that were referred to as centiemen, centimes, or Centimes.
A Brief Overview of the History of Belgian Coins
The widespread use of the French franc was a direct result of France’s revolutionary and Napoleonic-era conquests over the majority of western Europe. The franc eventually supplanted the kronenthaler as the primary unit of currency in the Austrian Netherlands. After the formation of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, this was ultimately superseded by the Dutch guilder as the official currency of both countries.
Following its independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the new Kingdom of Belgium established its own franc, which was comparable to the French franc, in 1832, followed by Luxembourg in 1848 and Switzerland in 1850.
The Belgian mint was invented in the late nineteenth century, and Belgium was the first country to issue cupronickel coins in 1860. Inscriptions in both languages were found on some later coins. When the two languages appeared on opposite sides of the same coin, two copies were created: one with Dutch on the left and French on the right, and one with the other order. In 1887, banknotes became multilingual.
Coins
Copper 1, 2, 5, and 10 centime coins, silver 1, 2, and 5 franc coins, and gold 20 and 40 franc coins were introduced between 1832 and 1834. Early 1 and 2 centime coins were made over Dutch and 1 cent coins. The 40 franc was not minted after 1841, although silver and gold francs, as well as 10 and 25 francs, were issued between 1848 and 1850. In 1852, silver 20-centimes replaced the franc. Cupro-nickel 20 centimes were introduced in 1860, followed by 5 and 10 centimes in 1861. The silver 5 francs was phased out in 1876. Holed, cupro-nickel 5, 10, and 25 centime coins were introduced between 1901 and 1908.
The manufacture of the 1 centime and all silver and gold coins halted in 1914. In the German-occupied zone, zinc 5, 10, and 25 centimes were introduced, followed by pierced, zinc 50 centimes in 1918. The production of two centimes ceased in 1919. Nickel 50 centime and 1 and 2 franc coins featuring the phrase “Good For” were issued in 1922 and 1923. These were depictions of the deity Mercury. Nickel-brass was introduced in the 5 and 10 centimes in 1930, and the 25 centimes in 1938. Nickel 5 and 20 franc coins were launched in 1930 and 1931, respectively, and were followed by silver 20 franc coins in 1933 and 50 franc coins in 1939. The 5 francs were redesigned in 1938, along with the 1 franc, to represent a lion and heraldic arms.
As a result of the German takeover in 1940, silver currency was phased out. Zinc replaced all other metals in the 5, 10, and 25 centimes, as well as the 1 and 5 francs, in 1941. Using surplus planchets from the 1943 steel cent, the Allies struck 25 million 2 franc coins at the Philadelphia Mint in 1944.
Cupro-nickel 5 francs and silver 50 and 100 francs were issued in 1948, with silver 20 francs issued in 1949 and cupro-nickel 1 franc issued in 1950. Classical allegoric images were portrayed on these coins. In 1952, bronze 20 and 50 centime coins depicting a miner and a lamp were issued. Despite their disparate dates, these coins entered circulation only a few years apart as part of larger currency reform. After 1955, silver coinage manufacturing halted.
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Cupro-nickel 25-centime coins replaced the 20-centime in 1964. The 25-centime coins were later discontinued in 1975. Nickel 10 francs depicting King Baudouin were introduced in 1969, followed by nickel-bronze 20 francs in 1980 and nickel 50 francs in 1987, all of which – bar the 10 Franc coin – r
Cupro-nickel In 1964, 20-centime coins were changed to 25-centime coins. In 1975, the 25-centime coins stopped being made. In 1969, nickel 10 franc coins with a picture of King Baudouin were made. In 1980, nickel-bronze 20 franc coins were made, and in 1987, nickel 50 franc coins were made. All of these coins, except for the 10 franc coin, replaced the corresponding banknotes. In 1986, cupro-nickel was replaced by aluminum-bronze on the 5 francs. In 1988, cupro-nickel was replaced by nickel-plated iron on the 1 franc, which was also much smaller. These changes happened at the same time that older coins were slowly taken out of circulation. This was similar to what happened in the early years after World War II. The new designs were also easier for vending machines and people who can’t see to pick out. All bills except the 50 centimes were redesigned in 1994. King Albert II replaced the picture of Baudouin on all bills except the 50 centimes. After 2000, they stopped making this show.
In 2004, you could no longer change coins for money.
Belgium’s use of Luxembourg francs
One Luxembourg franc was equivalent to one Belgian franc from 1944 until 2002. In both nations, you could buy goods and services with either franc. Nonetheless, retailers in Belgium sometimes declined clients’ attempts to pay with Luxembourg banknotes, either due to not knowing the currency’s worth or out of concern that other customers would do the same.
