CGG

Dating from the mid-late 19th century Kingdom of Belgium, the Belgian Franc European gold coin features Leopold II, King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. Remembered today as the "Builder King" because of the many new buildings he commissioned in Brussels, Ostend and Antwerp, King Leopold II is also known for hiring the famous explorer Henry Morton Stanley to colonize the Congo in 1876.

Belgium Franc gold coins are exactly the same size and weight as the extremely popular French 20 Franc Angels but are about three to four times scarcer in the market than Angels, which makes them an outstanding value.

The obverse features the bare head of King Leopold II facing right with the inscription: LEOPOLD PREMIER ROI DES BELGES. The first type of this coin was issued from 1867 to 1870, and the second type was issued from 1870 to 1882. Coins dated 1870 may be of either type. The second type has a redesigned portrait of King Leopold II with a slightly longer and coarser beard, a different shaped truncation at the neck, and other small differences including larger lettering and date numerals.

The reverse (back) of the coin features a Belgian coat of arms: a lion in a circular shield draped in an ermine cape topped by a crown. The inscription reads: L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE 20 FR.