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The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 allocated the Spanish Netherlands, where present-day Belgium is located, to Austria. Belgium was contested between the French and Austrian armies between 1792 and 1794. The French established themselves in Beligum in 1794 and annexed Belgium in 1795. Belgium was separated from France on February 15, 1814 and became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on March 16, 1815. Belgium gained its independence on October 14, 1830. It was occupied by Germany from August 4, 1914 to November 1918 and from May 10, 1940 to September 3, 1944.

The Nervii, a celtic tribe, issued the first coins in what is now Belgium around 50 BC. Roman and Merovingian coins circulated in Belgium for the next 800 years. Louis the Pious (814-840) established mints in Bruges, Ghent, COurtrai and Tournai, issuing coins silver deniers. Philip the Good (1419-1467) instituted a common monetary system for the Low Countries basing it upon the Flemish gros/petard/sol, equal to 12 deniers or 24 mites. Charles V (1506-55) introduced a gold real (60 sols), Karolus florin (40 sols) and silver Karolus (20 sols).

Under Philip the II, a new coinage system was established in 1612. The Souverain d’Or (XNEG) and Sols (XNES) were the principle currencies. The Souverain d’Or was equal to 5/3 of a Couronne d’Or or about 153 Sols. The Sols had numerous divisions in silver, copper and billon with 1 Patagon divisible into 4/5 Ducaton, 8 Escalin, 10 Reals, 48 Sols (Patards), 192 Liards, 576 Deniers, 1152 Gigots and 2304 Mites. The Sols were minted by a number of cities within the Spanish Netherlands.

When Belgium became the Austrian Netherlands, it adopted the Austrian monetary system, though with some adjustments. The Ducaton (XAND) was divisible into 1.11 Kronenthaler, 3 Florins (Gulden), 10 Escalin, 60 Sols and 240 Liards. The Brabant Revolution of 1789-1790 led to the short-lived establishment of the United Provinces of Belgium, which issued some coins.

After France occupied Belgium in 1795, Belgium adopted the French monetary system. During the French Revolution, Assignats (FRL) were issued beginning on December 19, 1789, supposedly with the royal domains backing them; however, their overissue led to a steady depreciation (the limit on Assignats was theoretically put at 40 billion Livres). The Assignats were replaced by the Mandats Territorial (FRM) on March 18, 1796 at the rate of 30 Assignats for 1 Mandat. The Mandats also depreciated quickly, and were withdrawn on February 4, 1797 at the rate of 100 Mandats Territorial equal to 1 French Franc.

The French Franc Assignats (FRA) had been introduced on April 14, 1795 (25 Germinal IV) at the rate of 1 French Franc equal to 1 Livre 3 Deniers. The Franc Germinal (FRG) was stabilized on April 7, 1803 with a bimetallic currency system based upon gold and silver.

The Netherlands Guilder (NLG) was used in Belgium while it was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but upon gaining its independence, Belgium introduced the Belgian Franc (BEF) at par with the French Franc. The Franc was made divisible into 100 centimes. The Belgian Franc (XULF) was part of the Latin Monetary Union from 1865 until 1925. Germany occupied Belgium during World War I, but since the Belgians took the banknote plates with them into exile, Germany had to issue banknotes through the Societe Generale de Belgique bank. The Belga (BEB) was introduced on December 26, 1925 and set equal to 5 Francs. Belgium officially left the Gold Standard on May 10, 1940.

During World War II, the Germans set 1 Belga equal to 0.5 Reichsmarks from May 1940 until July 1940, and 0.4 Reichsmarks thereafter. After World War II was over, Belgium abolished the Belga in December 1945 and readopted the Franc as its currency. The Banque National de Belgique issued banknotes from 1850 until 2002. The ISO issued special symbols for convertible (BEC) and financial (BEL) Belgian Francs. Belgium introduced on May 10, 1940 and didn’t fully remove them until March 5, 1990.

Belgium adopted the Euro as its currency on January 1, 1999 at the rate of 1 Euro equal to 40.3399 Francs. Euro banknotes, issued by the European Central Bank, began circulating in Belgium on January 1, 2002, and Belgian Francs ceased to be legal tender on February 28, 2002.

Here is a 10 Centimes coin dated 1904. The obverse of the coin features a center hole within a crowned monogram. The date is below, legend is in french and the legend reads Belgique. The reverse depicts a spray of leaves to the left of the center hole, and the denomination to the right.

• Legend: French - Belgique
• Weight: 4.0g
• Diameter: 22mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 16,354,000
• Krause # KM-52

This 10 Centimes coin is dated 1905. The obverse of the coin features a center hole within a crowned monogram. The date is below, legend is in Dutch and the legend reads Belgie. The reverse depicts a spray of leaves to the left of the center hole, and the denomination to the right.

• Legend: Dutch - Belgie
• Weight: 4.0g
• Diameter: 22mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 13,758,000
• Krause # KM-53

This 1916 dated coin is valued at 10 Centimes. The obverse features the denomination in a circle with the date below, the legend in French- 'Belgique-Belgie'. The reverse depicts a rampant lion facing left within a cirlce.

Note: German Occupation. All of KM#81 have dots after the date. The 1916 is distinguished by a period after the date.

• Legend: French/Ducth - Belgique-Belgie
• Weight: 4.0g
• Diameter: 22mm
• Material: Zinc
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 37,382,000
• Krause # KM-81

Here is a coin dated 1922 and valued at 1 Franc. The obverse features a kneeling figure, legend around rim is in Dutch - Belgie. The reverse depicts a cadeceus dividing the denomination with date below. The caduceus is a herald's staff, a symbolic object representing Hermes (or the Roman Mercury), and by extension trades, occupations or undertakings associated with the god.

• Legend: Dutch - Belgie
• Weight: 5.0g
• Diameter: 23mm
• Material: Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 19,000,000
• Krause # KM-90

Here is a 5 franc coin dated 1978. The obverse depicts a plant in the center with the crown to top, country below and denomination on either side of plant. The reverse shows a laureate bust with the date to the left and a small symbol to the right.

• Legend: French - Belgique
• Weight: 6.0 g
• Diameter: 24 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 27,500,000
• Krause # KM-134.1

This is a 5 franc coin dated 1977. The obverse depicts a plant in the center with the crown to top, country below and denomination on either side of plant. The reverse shows a laureate bust with the date to the left and a small symbol to the right.

• Legend: Dutch - Belgie
• Weight: 6.0 g
• Diameter: 24 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 22,500,000
• Krause # KM-135.1

This is a 1 franc coin dated 1971. The obverse depicts a plant in the center with the crown to top, country below and denomination on either side of plant. The reverse shows a laureate bust with the date to the left and a small symbol to the right.

• Legend: French - Belgique
• Weight: 4.0 g
• Diameter: 21 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 10,000,000
• Krause # KM-142.1

Here is a 1 franc coin dated 1956. The obverse depicts a plant in the center with the crown to top, country below and denomination on either side of plant. The reverse shows a laureate bust with the date to the left and a small symbol to the right.

• Legend: Dutch - Belgie
• Weight: 4.0 g
• Diameter: 21 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 10,040,000
• Krause # KM-143.1

Here is a 1962 dated 20 Centimes coin. The obverse features a crown atop the denomination with the date to eaither side, and a French legend - Belgique. The reverse depicts a helmeted head facing to the left, and a small miners lamp to the right.

• Legend: French - Belgique
• Weight: 2.0g
• Diameter: 17mm
• Material: Bronze
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 410,000
• Krause # KM-146

Here is a 20 Centimes coin dated 1954. The obverse features a crown atop the denomination with the date to eaither side, and a Dutch legend - Belgie. The reverse depicts a helmeted head facing to the left, and a small miners lamp to the right.

• Legend: Dutch - Belgie
• Weight: 2.0g
• Diameter: 17mm
• Material: Bronze
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 50,130,000
• Krause # KM-147.1

This coin is dated 1973 and valued at 10 Francs. The obverse of the coin feaqtures an unknown bust facing left. The reverse depicts crowned arms, splittign the date to either side, the date at the bottom, and the legend above in French - Belgique.

Note: Mint mark - Angel head. Mintmaster Vogeleer's privy mark - Bird.

• Legend: French - Belgique
• Weight: 8.0g
• Diameter: 27mm
• Material: Nickel
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 10,000,000
• Krause # KM-155.1

This 1982 dated coin is valued at 20 Francs. The obverse features and unknown bust facing left. The reverse depicts a stylized plant spray in the center, the coins value to the right and a French legend above - Belgique.

• Legend: French - Belgique
• Weight: 8.50g
• Diameter: 25.65mm
• Material: Nickel-Bronze
• Edge: Dashed line bisecting repeating ovals
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 54,000,000
• Krause # KM-159

Here is a 20 Francs coin dated 1082. The obverse features and unknown bust facing left. The reverse depicts a stylized plant spray in the center, the coins value to the right and a Dutch legend above - Belgie.

• Legend: Dutch - Belgie
• Weight: 8.50g
• Diameter: 25.65mm
• Material: Nickel-Bronze
• Edge: Dashed line bisecting repeating ovals
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 54,000,000
• Krause # KM-160

Here is a 1986 dated coin valued at 5 Francs. The obverse features segmented surface with an unknown bust facing left. The reverse depicts a segmented surface with a stylized value in the center, French legend - Belgique - and the date at the bottom.

• Legend: French - Belgique
• Weight: 5.50g
• Diameter: 24mm
• Material: Brass or Aluminum-Bronze
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 208,400,000
• Krause # KM-163

Here is a 5 franc coin dated 1986. The obverse features segmented surface with an unknown bust facing left. The reverse depicts a segmented surface with a stylized value in the center, Dutch legend - Belgie - and the date at the bottom.

• Legend: Dutch - Belgie
• Weight: 5.50g
• Diameter: 24 mm
• Material: Brass Or Aluminum-Bronze
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 208,400,000
• Krause # KM-164

This coin is dated 1990 and valued at 50 Francs. The obverse features a segmented curface with an unknown bust facing left. The reverse depicts the value in the center, date at the bottm and the Dutch legend - Belgie - between the two.

• Legend: Dutch - Belgie
• Weight: 7.0g
• Diameter: 22.75mm
• Material: Nickel
• Edge: Thick Reeding
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 15,060,000
• Krause # KM-168

This is a 1 Franc coin dated 1989. The obverse features an unknown bust facing left with the French legend - Baudouin I - at the top. The reverse depicts a surface split in 3, with the value to the right, crown to the left and French legend - Belgique - at the bottom.

Note: Coin Alignement

• Legend: French - Baudouin I / Belgique.
• Weight: 2.750g
• Diameter: m18m
• Material: Nickel Plated Iron
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 200,060,000
• Krause # KM-170

This is a 1 franc coin dated 1990. The obverse features an unknown bust facing left with the Dutch legend - Boudewijn I - at the top. The reverse depicts a surface split in 3, with the value to the right, crown to the left and Dutch legend - Belgie - at the bottom.

Note: Coin Alignment

• Legend: Dutch- Boudewijn I / Belgie
• Weight:
• Diameter: 18 mm
• Material: Nickel Plated Iron
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage: 200,060,000
• Krause # KM-171

Here is a 20 Francs coin dated 1996. The obverse of the coin features the bust of Albert II facing left, with an outline around the back of the bust. The reverse depicts a center line dividing the dateat the top, the value in the center and the French legend - Belgique.

Note: Mint mark - Angel head. Mintmaster R. Coenen's privy
mark - Scale.

• Legend: French - Belgique
• Weight: 8.50g
• Diameter: 25.65mm
• Material: Nickel-Bronze
• Edge: Dashed line bisecting repeating ovals
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 14,485,000
• Krause # KM-191

Here is a 2 cent coin from the European Union date 2000. The obverse features the Bust of Albert II within a circle, date below with stars around the rim. The reverse depicts the globe to the right, andvalue to the left.

• Weight: 3.03g
• Diameter: 18.7mm
• Material: Copper plated Steel
• Edge: solid groove
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 373,040,000
• Krause # KM-225