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Gold 20 Francs

1878 Belgium 20 Franc Gold

.900 Gold

Belgium was known to the Romans for the fierceness of its Belgae tribe, which strongly resisted Roman invasion. Eventually it was absorbed into the Roman Empire. At the death of Charlemagne, Europe was divided up for his three sons at the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Lothair received most of the Low Countries (Belgium and Holland) along with Lorraine, Alsace, Burgundy, Provence, and most of Italy. After this its control passed between Burgundian, French, Spanish and Austrian masters. At the congress of Vienna in 1815, Belgium was reunited with the Netherlands, but gained independence in 1830 as a constitutional monarchy under Leopold I. Ravaged by both world wars in the twentieth century, as was most of Europe, Belgium was liberated from German occupation in September 1944. On January 1st 1989, it became a federal kingdom.

Mintage
2,505,000

Issued from 1866 to 1882.
The obverse pictures a bare headed bust of Leopold II facing right ( Born:1835 - Died:1909 ). Below the base of the bust is the initials "LW", The legend LEOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES ( Leopold II King of the Belgians ) surrounds. The date appears below.
The reverse has the value 20 FR which appears at the bottom of the Crowned arms of Belgium with a central lion rampant on a circular shield draped in an ermine cape with the French legend L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Unity makes Strength) around the top
The edge has raised 5-pointed stars with the raised lettering:- DIEU PROTEGE LA BELGIQUE

Specifications

Sources

Composition:	.9166 Gold
Gold Content:	0.1867 oz
Edge:	Raised Edge Lettering
Weight:	6.4516 grams
Size:	21.5 mm

Chard Tax Free Gold
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Gold Coins of the World From 600AD to Present Robert Frieburg, Arthur and Ira S. Friedburg 1980 The Coin and Currency Institute, Inc. 116 West 32nd Street New York, 10001