Currency of Belgium
1914 two francs
This specimen was lot 2803 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €160 (about US$203 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 2 francs, 27.08.14. Comptes courants. M.E. 5. Superbe. (Belgium, National Bank, two francs of August 1914, current account. Extremely fine.)"
Pick 82.
1914 twenty francs
This specimen was lot 2802 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €80 (about US$101 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 20 francs, 17.12.14. M.E. 21b. Rare. Superbe. (Belgium, National Bank, twenty francs of December 1914. Rare, extremely fine.)"
This type has catalog number Pick 67, the variety with red serial numbers is Pick 76.
1915 twenty francs
This specimen was lot 914 in Jean Elsen sale 148 (Brussels, September 2021), where it sold for €1,400 (about US$1,984 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[3] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Société Générale de Belgique, 20 francs, 14.02.1915. Rare. Neuf. (Belgium, General Society of Belgium, twenty francs of February 2015. Rare, New.)"
We would much like to know if this note was issued from the German occupied zone or from the small sliver of Belgium that remained free during World War One.
1917 five francs
This specimen was lot 2029 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €420 (about US$550 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[5] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Société Générale de Belgique, 5 francs, 9.7.1917. Aernout 8. Légères traces de plis. Très Beau. (general society of Belgium, five francs of 1917. Light traces of fold, Very Fine.)"
We would much like to know if this note was issued from the German occupied zone or from the small sliver of Belgium that remained free during World War One.
1926 5 and 20 francs
The first specimen was lot 1623 in Jean Elsen sale 135 (Brussels, December 2017), where it sold for €400 (about US$554 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale de Belgique, 5 francs, 16.06.1926. M.E. 11a. Très rare. Fleur de Coin. (Belgium, National Bank, five francs of 1926. Very rare, Uncirculated.)"
The second specimen was lot 2030 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €800 (about US$1,048 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[5] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 20 francs, 09.08.1926. Aernout 25. Rare. Taches. Un coin plié. Très Beau. (national bank of Belgium, twenty francs of 1926, Rare, stained, a corner folded, Very Fine.)"
1927 50 francs
This specimen was lot 920 in Jean Elsen sale 148 (Brussels, September 2021), where it sold for €1,200 (about US$1,701 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[3] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 50 francs - 10 belgas, 20.09.1927. Rare Légèrement corné. Neuf. (Belgium, National Bank, Fifty francs/ten belgas of September 1927. Rare, New.)"
1929 10,000 francs
This specimen was lot 1625 in Jean Elsen sale 135 (Brussels, December 2017), where it sold for €230 (about US$319 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale de Belgique, 10.000 francs, 03.12.1929. M.E. 110a. Petits trous et trace de restauration. Très Beau. (Belgium, National Bank, ten thousand francs of 1929. Small traces of repair, Very Fine.)"
1932 hundred francs
This specimen was lot 2806 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €85 (about US$108 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[6] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 100 francs, 13.07.32. M.E. 59. Neuf. (Belgium, National Bank, hundred francs of July 1932. New.)"
1943 1,000 francs
This specimen was lot 1626 in Jean Elsen sale 135 (Brussels, December 2017), where it sold for €160 (about US$222 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 1000 francs, 01.02.1943. Type Londres. M.E. 101. A été plié. Légèrement déchiré. Beau à Très Beau. (Belgium, National Bank, one thousand francs of 1943, printed in London. Has been creased, Fine - Very Fine.)"
1945 thousand francs
This specimen was lot 2808 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €220 (about US$279 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[6] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 1000 francs, 24.03.45. Type Dynastie. M.E. 102b. quasi Neuf. (Belgium, National Bank, thousand francs of March 1945, dynastic type, about new.)"
1950 1,000 francs
This specimen was lot 3090 in Sincona sale 66 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 250 CHF (about US$329 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"BELGIEN, Banque Nationale de Belgique. 1000 Francs 1950, 21. November. Pick 131. I. (National Bank of Belgium, one thousand francs of 1950. Uncirculated.)"
1973 1,000 francs
This specimen was part of lot 4021 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it did not sell. The catalog description[4] noted,
"BANKNOTEN | Belgien, Banque Nationale de Belgique. 1000 Francs 1973, 12. Februar. Sign. Vandeputte/Jordens. 100 Francs o. J. (1978-1981). Pick 136b, 140. II - I / Extremely fine-uncirculated. (2). (banknotes of Belgium, National Bank, one thousand francs of 1973, signatures Vandeputte and Jordens, and an undated hundred francs, circa 1978-81. Two pieces.)"
1977 5000 francs
This specimen was lot 2035 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €600 (about US$786 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[5] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 5000 francs, 29.06.1977. Vésale. Aernout 107. Neuf. (national bank of Belgium, five thousand francs of 1977, Visalius. New.)"
(1984-86) 5000 francs
This specimen was lot 2036 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €500 (about US$655 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[5] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 5000 francs, s.d. (1984-1986). Gezelle. Aernout 108. Neuf (national bank of Belgium, undated five thousand francs, circa 1984-86, Gezelle. New.)"
(1992-97) 10,000 francs
This specimen was lot 2037 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €340 (about US$446 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[5] noted,
"BELGIQUE, Banque Nationale, 10000 francs, s.d. (1992-1997). Aernout 110. Petit coup sur le bord. quasi Neuf. (national bank of Belgium, undated ten thousand francs, circa 1992-97. Minor edge cut, almost New.)"
(1997) 10,000 francs
This specimen was lot 3093 in Sincona sale 66 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 475 CHF (about US$625 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"BELGIEN, Banque Nationale de Belgique. 10000 Francs o. J. (1997). Pick 152. Selten. I. (National Bank of Belgium, undated ten thousand francs. Rare, Uncirculated.)"
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 135, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2017.
- [2]Jürg Richter, Auction 66, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, featuring the Claude Stritt Collection, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.
- [3]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 148: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
- [4]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
- [5]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 155, Collection Marc Bar et Distinctions de Jean-Baptiste Nothomb, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
- [6]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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