Belga Bullion

The Royal Mint of Belgium has launched gold belga bullion coins to commemorate the centenary of the denomination. 

With inflation rising after World War I, Belgium sought to stabilize the Belgian franc by linking it to the gold standard. The secondary currency, named the belga, was proposed in 1926 as part of a larger economic plan for monetary reform. One belga equaled five Belgian francs, and the bank notes and coins issued at the time reflected both currency systems simultaneously. The first copper-nickel coins with both currencies were minted and issued in 1930 under King Albert I. Coins minted after 1933 no longer included the belga denomination, and the last belga bank notes are dated 1934. The secondary currency was formally dissolved in 1946.

The New Issues

Designed by Iris Bruijns, the belga bullion coins are a tribute to Belgian history and culture. The obverse features a stylized iris—the symbol of the capitol city of Brussels—in the center. A modern, simplified version of the Belgian crest appears on the reverse with the denomination (€300 for the 1-ounce version and €75 for the ¼ ounce) and the country’s name in its three national languages—French, Dutch, and German. The year and the mintmarks of the Royal Belgian Mint and the Royal Dutch Mint appear at the bottom. The fields of the obverse and reverse include raised relief vertical lines as a security feature. The Royal Dutch Mint produced the coins under license of the Royal Belgian Mint.

The bullion coins went on sale on March 25. The 1-ounce version is currently sold out. The ¼-ounce version is available with spot gold pricing calculated at the final point of sale.