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20 Francs Belgium Leopold II (1867-1882) — historic Belgian LMU 20F, gross mass 6.4516 g, pure gold 5.80645 g, 0.900 fineness, 21.0 mm diameter. Obverse Leopold II portrait (Léopold Wiener), LÉOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES. Reverse Belgian heraldic shield with Belgian lion. Brussels Mint. Belgium as LMU founding state 1865. Premium 4-8%. VAT-exempt in the EU. GoldInvest24.
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Price: 3315.59
The 20 Francs Belgium Leopold II (1867-1882) gold coin is a historic Belgian 20-franc piece of the Latin Monetary Union (LMU) standard with a gross mass of 6.4516 g, a pure-gold mass of 5.80645 g, a 0.900 fineness (Crown-Gold-style alloy), a 21.0 mm diameter and a 20-Belgian-franc face value. The obverse features the portrait of King Leopold II — the second ruler of independent Belgium (1865-1909) — with the inscription LÉOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES (Leopold II King of the Belgians). Struck at the Brussels Mint (Monnaie de Bruxelles) for 16 years (1867, 1869-1882). Belgium as an LMU founding state (treaty of 23.12.1865 together with France, Switzerland and Italy) adopted the 20F standard without modification. Market premium typically 4-8% over spot — the median among LMU 20F, higher than Vreneli and Napoleon III but lower than Helvetia. VAT-exempt in the EU as a historic legal-tender coin.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Brussels Mint (Monnaie de Bruxelles, Belgium) |
| Series | 20 francs Léopold II — Kingdom of Belgium |
| Mintage years | 1867, 1869-1882 (16 issues, mixed years on sale) |
| Standard | Latin Monetary Union (LMU from 23.12.1865 — Belgium as founding member) |
| Gross mass | 6.4516 g (gold + copper) |
| Pure gold mass | 5.80645 g |
| Fineness | 0.900 fineness (Crown-Gold-style alloy) |
| Alloy | Au 90% + Cu 10% |
| Diameter | 21.0 mm |
| Thickness | approx. 1.3 mm |
| Face value | 20 Belgian francs (historic legal tender) |
| Obverse | Leopold II — king's portrait — Léopold Wiener, LÉOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES |
| Reverse | Belgian heraldic shield with Belgian lion, crown, 20 FR, year |
| LBMA status | Not directly (historic coin, not a current bullion issue) |
| VAT in the EU | Exempt (legal-tender coin, fineness 900 = minimum, struck after 1800, EU Directive 2006/112/EC Art. 344) |
| UK status | NOT CGT-free (CGT exemption applies only to British legal tender) |
| USA status | NOT IRA-eligible (IRS admits only American coins and selected bullion) |
| Packaging | Protective capsule or blister |
Belgium emerged as an independent state in 1830 after the Belgian Revolution separating the country from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (established in 1815 after the Napoleonic Wars). The first king was Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg (reigned 1831-1865), elected by the National Congress of Belgium from among German Protestant princes. Leopold I established the Belgian constitutional monarchy by signing the 1831 constitution — one of the most liberal in 19th-century Europe.
Leopold II of Belgium (1835-1909) ascended the throne on 17 December 1865 after the death of his father Leopold I. The first 20-franc coins of Leopold II appeared in 1867 — with a two-year delay relative to the accession, due to the need to redesign the royal portrait (Leopold II was already 30 years old at the time of coronation, so the portrait had to differ from his father's image from the 1830s). In total, Leopold II was struck for 16 years (1867, 1869-1882) — the break in 1868 resulted from a mint reorganisation.
Belgium joined the Latin Monetary Union as a founding state by the treaty of 23 December 1865 — only a few weeks before Leopold II's accession to the throne. The LMU 20F standard (6.4516 g gross, 0.900 fineness, 5.80645 g pure gold) was accepted for the Belgian 20-franc coin without modification — Belgium accepted the French pattern mathematically derived from the germinal franc. The Belgian franc was interchangeable with the French, Swiss and Italian at a 1:1 ratio — both in silver and in gold.
Léopold Wiener (1823-1891) — Belgian sculptor and engraver of Jewish-German origin — was the chief medallist of the Brussels Mint in the second half of the 19th century. Wiener designed the Leopold II portrait for the 20-franc coin in 1867 — the portrait remained in use throughout Leopold II's reign until 1882 (replaced thereafter by the "Pigeon" motif — peace dove — in the years 1882-1909). Léopold Wiener was also the author of numerous Belgian, Dutch and French medals and commemorative coins of the Kingdom of Belgium.
In 1882 Belgium withdrew the Leopold II portrait from the 20-franc coin and introduced the "Pigeon" motif — a peace dove instead of the king's portrait. The reason was Leopold II's collector strategy — the king did not want his portrait to continue being mass-struck as the period of colonial expansion in the Congo (from 1885) and the political controversies associated with it approached. The 20-franc Pigeon issues (1882-1909) are stylistically different from Leopold II and sold as a separate collector type.
The obverse of the 20 Francs Belgium Leopold II coin features the portrait of King Leopold II in left profile (or right in some issues), with hair styled in the Victorian period style and the characteristic sideburns (favourites) typical of 19th-century fashion. Around the portrait is the inscription LÉOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES (Leopold II King of the Belgians) — the French title of the monarch, official in the Belgian constitutional monarchy.
Léopold Wiener (1823-1891) — Belgian sculptor and engraver born in Hoorn (Netherlands) — was the son of the German engraver Jacob Wiener, who settled in Belgium after 1830. Léopold studied in Brussels and Paris, where he was a student of well-known French sculptors of the Second Empire period. At the Brussels Mint Wiener served as chief medallist in the years 1865-1890 — he designed hundreds of Belgian, Dutch and French medals and coins.
The Leopold II portrait by Wiener is stylistically close to the Napoleon III portrait by Barre — both artists derived from the French sculptural tradition of the second half of the 19th century. The contrast to the Swiss Helvetia (Bovy, classicist woman) and Vreneli (Landry, young woman with braided hair) is clear — Leopold II is a portrait of an adult, bearded man in Victorian style, emphasising the majesty of the monarch. The inscription DES BELGES (of the Belgians, in the genitive) — not DE BELGIQUE (of Belgium) — reflects the Belgian constitutional tradition: the king is king of the nation (of the Belgians), not sovereign of a territory.
Leopold II was known in 19th-century Europe for his tall stature (he measured approx. 1.90 m, significantly above the era's average), long beard greying in later years, and active foreign policy (creation of the Congo Free State in 1885 as his private colony). On the 20-franc coins from the years 1867-1882 Leopold II is still depicted without grey hair — he was then 32-47 years old. The absence of an older Leopold II portrait on 20-franc coins results from the withdrawal of this motif in 1882 in favour of the Pigeon — when the king was already 47 years old and his image could have been updated.
The reverse of the 20 Francs Belgium Leopold II coin features the heraldic shield of the Kingdom of Belgium — a black shield with a golden Belgian lion (lion rampant facing left or right) with a crown above the shield. Around the shield is the inscription L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Unity makes strength) — the national motto of Belgium since 1830, chosen by the National Congress after the Belgian Revolution as an expression of Walloon-Flemish unity in the new state. Below the shield are the face value 20 FR and the year of minting.
The Belgian lion (Léo Belgique) has been the national emblem of Belgium since the Middle Ages — it derives from the coats of arms of the Duchy of Brabant (the main component of medieval Belgium) and the County of Flanders. The lion rampant (standing on its hind legs) symbolises strength, courage and sovereignty — a traditional motif of European heraldry associated with medieval monarchies. The crown above the shield is the Belgian royal crown — designed in 1831 for Leopold I, used by all subsequent Belgian kings.
The motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Unity makes strength) has been the national motto of Belgium since 1830 — it expresses the idea of federal unity between the Walloons (French-speaking southern Belgium) and the Flemings (Dutch-speaking northern Belgium), the two main language communities of the newly formed state. The motto appears on state coats of arms, coins (the reverse of the 20-franc Leopold II coin), postage stamps and Belgian official documents. In the three official languages of Belgium the motto reads: L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (French), EENDRACHT MAAKT MACHT (Dutch), EINIGKEIT MACHT STARK (German).
The year of minting placed under the shield serves as the distinguishing feature between issues in the 16-year Leopold II series (1867, 1869-1882). The most common vintages are the years 1874-1880 (highest mintages). The rarest are early issues (1867 — first production year, low mintage; 1868 no issue) and late issues (1881-1882 — twilight of the Leopold II series before the introduction of the Pigeon in 1882). These issues may have numismatic value higher than the precious-metal value — typically +20-40% over mixed years.
Check the vintage of the Leopold II coin — in secondary trade, mixed years contains various vintages 1867, 1869-1882. Specific collector vintages (1867 — first production year; 1881-1882 — last issues before the Pigeon) may be sold with a numismatic premium of +20-40% over mixed years. For an investment strategy, mixed years are optimal — lower unit cost while maintaining full gold content (5.80645 g identical in all vintages).
Note the collector subtype — after 1882 Belgium struck 20-franc coins with the "Pigeon" motif instead of the Leopold II portrait — the 1882-1909 issues are sold as a separate collector type. Mixed years usually contains only the Leopold II portrait issues (1867-1882); Pigeon issues (1882-1909) are sold separately. When buying, check the type — Leopold II portrait vs peace dove on the obverse.
The market premium on Leopold II typically holds in the range of 4-8% over spot — the median among LMU 20F: higher than Vreneli (2-5%) and Napoleon III/Angel (3-6%), but lower than Helvetia (5-10%). Results from moderate mintage (several million pieces in 16 years of production) and a smaller regional market than the French or Swiss. Belgium is less numerous on the European secondary market than France or Switzerland, which raises the premium — but still significantly lower than on modern bullion or fractions.
Check the condition of the coin and authenticity — Leopold II in the 900/1000 alloy retains typical circulation traces after 145-160 years: light wear, fine scratches, natural surface patina. Pay particular attention to the preservation of obverse details — Leopold II's beard and sideburns are fine elements prone to wear, similarly to the Belgian lion on the reverse (fine heraldic details). For an investment strategy, VF and EF grades are acceptable. Each coin is delivered in a protective capsule or individual blister.
| Feature | Vreneli (CH) | Napoleon III (FR) | Angel (FR) | Helvetia (CH) | Leopold II (BE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mintage years | 1897-1949 | 1853-1870 | 1871-1898 | 1883-1896 | 1867-1882 |
| Mint | Bern | Monnaie de Paris | Monnaie de Paris | Bern | Brussels Mint |
| Obverse | Helvetia (Vreneli) | Napoleon III | Genius of Liberty | Helvetia seated | Leopold II |
| Designer | Fritz Ulysse Landry | Barre / Hugues | Augustin Dupré | Antoine Bovy | Léopold Wiener |
| Pure gold | 5.80645 g | 5.80645 g | 5.80645 g | 5.80645 g | 5.80645 g |
| Fineness | 0.900 | 0.900 | 0.900 | 0.900 | 0.900 |
| Typical premium | 2-5% | 3-6% | 3-6% | 5-10% | 4-8% |
| Secondary liquidity | Highest | Very high | High | Medium | High |
See the entire gold investment coins category available at GoldInvest24.
The 20 Francs Belgium Leopold II is a historic Belgian gold coin of the Latin Monetary Union standard, struck at the Brussels Mint in the years 1867, 1869-1882 with a gross mass of 6.4516 g, a pure-gold mass of 5.80645 g, a 0.900 fineness and a 21.0 mm diameter. The obverse features the portrait of King Leopold II with the inscription LÉOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES, designed by Léopold Wiener. The reverse presents the Belgian heraldic shield with the Belgian lion and crown.
Gross mass 6.4516 g (gold + copper), pure-gold mass 5.80645 g, 0.900 fineness (Au 90% + Cu 10%, Crown-Gold-style alloy), 21.0 mm diameter, approx. 1.3 mm thickness, face value 20 Belgian francs. Mint: Brussels (Monnaie de Bruxelles). Obverse: Leopold II portrait — Léopold Wiener, LÉOPOLD II ROI DES BELGES. Reverse: Belgian heraldic shield with Belgian lion and crown, motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE, 20 FR and year of minting.
Belgium emerged as an independent state in 1830 (Belgian Revolution separating from the Netherlands). Leopold I (1831-1865), Leopold II (1865-1909) — second king of Belgium. Belgium as LMU founding state on 23.12.1865. The first 20-franc coins of Leopold II in 1867 (two-year delay after accession). Mintage 1867, 1869-1882 — 16 issues. Replaced in 1882 by the "Pigeon" motif (peace dove instead of king's portrait).
Leopold II (Belgium, 1867-1882) — Belgium as LMU founding state, King Leopold II (Léopold Wiener), premium 4-8%. Vreneli (Switzerland, 1897-1949) — highest-mintage LMU 20F, Helvetia woman, premium 2-5%. Napoleon III (France, 1853-1870) — Second Empire, LMU prototype. Angel (France, 1871-1898) — Third Republic, Genius of Liberty (Dupré). Helvetia (Switzerland, 1883-1896) — Vreneli predecessor (Bovy).
For collectors of historic gold coins due to the king's portrait of an LMU founding state (unique position), for building a complete portfolio of historic LMU 20F coins with representation of all founding states (France: Napoleon III, Angel; Switzerland: Helvetia, Vreneli; Belgium: Leopold II), and for investors accepting a median premium of 4-8% (median among LMU 20F).
LBMA Good Delivery — NOT directly (Leopold II is a historic coin, not a current bullion issue). VAT in the EU — EXEMPT (historic legal-tender coin, 0.900 fineness = minimum, struck after 1800, market price ≤180% of gold value — meets EU Directive 2006/112/EC Art. 344). CGT-free in the UK — NO (CGT-free status applies only to British legal tender). IRA-eligible in the USA — NO.
Place an order in our shop with access to the gold investment coins category, the full range of historic LMU 20-franc coins (Vreneli, Napoleon III, Angel, Helvetia, Leopold II) and the offer of LBMA bullion mints. Check the current gold quotes to compare the premium against the current spot price. Descriptions in PL / DE / EN.
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