Belgium 1870 20 francs
This specimen was lot 5005 in Künker sale 354 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €300 (about US$371 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"KÖNIGREICH BELGIEN, Leopold II. 1865-1909. 20 Francs 1870, Brüssel. 5,81 g Feingold. GOLD. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Aus der Sammlung Axel Tesmer. Erworben am 10.10.1966. (kingdom of Belgium, twenty frances of 1870, Brussels mint. Very fine to extremely fine.)"
This coin, one of a type struck 1870-82 during the reign of Leopold III of Belgium (1865-1909), corresponds in weight and fineness to the contemporary French twenty francs. An earlier variety, KM 32 of 1867-70, has a slightly different texture to the beard of the king. Position "A" and position "B" varieties exist, with a slight premium going to position "B" (edge lettering facing the obverse).
Recorded mintage: 3,191,000 for all varieties.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM 37, Fr-412; Morin 137; Schl. 20.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 354: Munzen und Medaillen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. Braunschweig-Luneburg. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
Link to: