Belgium 1867 5 Francs Extra Fine (EF40) $

Belgium 1867 5 Francs Extra Fine (EF40)

Leopold II of Belgium (1835–1909) reigned from 1865 to 1909 and is remembered both for his ambitious modernization of Belgium and for the brutal colonial regime he established in Africa. At home, he oversaw urban renewal, public works, and the expansion of infrastructure, helping Belgium flourish as an industrial power. Abroad, however, he personally controlled the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908, where forced labor, violence, and exploitation led to the deaths and suffering of millions of Congolese people. International outrage eventually forced him to cede the territory to the Belgian government, but his legacy remains deeply controversial, marked by both national development and colonial atrocities.

Obverse: Bearded bust of Leopold II facing left, with legend in French around, and designer at bottom.
Reverse: Belgian Coat of Arms within a wreath dividing the denomination, with the motto in French above, and the year below.

Specifications:
Monarch: Leopold II (1865-1909)
Engraver: Léopold Wiener
Composition: 0.900 Silver, 0.100 Copper
Weight: 25 g
Diameter: 37 mm
Edge: Inscripted
Die Axis: ↑↓
Mint: The Royal Mint of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
Mintage: 3,693,144