Belgium 1870 5 francs
This specimen was lot 70140 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, February 2020), where it sold for $70. The catalog description[1] noted, "BELGIUM. 5 Francs, 1870. Leopold II. NGC Unc Details--Obverse Cleaned. A well struck and lightly gray toned crown with some light obverse hairlines." This type was struck 1865-78 in large numbers and is the commonest silver coin of the reign. Leopold II was hailed at the beginning of his reign as an enlightened, constitutional monarch, and later vilified for his activities in the Congo Free State. The second specimen was lot 1835 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €420 (about US$582 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Royaume, Léopold II (1865-1909), module de 5 francs de Wiener, 1870. Visite de la Monnaie. Cuivre. Frappe médaille. Tranche lisse. Rare. Fines griffes. Le droit légèrement nettoyé. Pour la visite de Mrs Freemantle, Chandler Roberts et Napier à la Monnaie de Bruxelles. (kingdom of Belgium, Leopold II, 1865-1909, copper mint visit medal of 1870, module of five francs, medal strike, plain edge. Rare, hairlines, obverse lightly cleaned, Extremely Fine. Issued for the visit of Mrs Freemantle, Chandler Roberts and Napier to the Brussels mint.)"
Recorded mintage: 10,486,000.
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .723 troy oz ASW, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: KM-24, Dav-53. The second specimen Dupriez 1120.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The February 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
Link to: