Belgium 1909 25 Centimes VF-EF (VF30)

Belgium 1909 25 Centimes VF-EF (VF-30)

The Belgian 1909 25-centimes is notable as one of the last coins issued during the reign of King Leopold II, who died from an embolism on December 17, 1909. Leopold II is most infamous for his personal rule over the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908, during which forced labor, especially for rubber extraction, generated him immense wealth and provoked international condemnation. This ultimately led the Belgian Parliament to annex the territory on November 15, 1908, forming the Belgian Congo. The 1909 coin was minted amid the political and social fallout of this colonial transition. Its copper-nickel composition also reflects broader trends in global coinage. By this time, the Latin Monetary Union’s bimetallic standard had effectively shifted to a gold standard, and low-denomination coins were increasingly produced in base metals rather than silver, signaling a move toward practicality and cost-efficiency in everyday currency.

Obverse: The Royal Monogram of King Leopold II surrounded with lettering 

Reverse: The Center hole is flanked by an olive sprig and value. 

Specifications:
King: Leopold II (1865-1909) 
Composition: Copper-Nickel (75% Copper, 25% Nickel) 
Engraver: Alphonse Michaux 
Weight: 6.5 g 
Diameter: 26 mm 
Edge: Plain 
Die Axis: ↑↓
Mint: Royal Mint of Belgium
Mintage: 1 998 086