20 Francs Gold

The Belgian 20 Francs gold coin was struck to the exact specifications of the French 20 Francs, allowing it to circulate freely in Europe as part of the Latin Monetary Union from the start.

That meant a coin minted in Brussels could end up in a Parisian market or a Roman pocket without anyone batting an eye. Designs varied slightly over the years, featuring King Leopold I's portrait on the obverse and the Belgian arms on the reverse, all crafted by engravers like Jacques-Jean Barre. Production ran from 1832 to 1865 at the Brussels mint, though exact mintage figures for many years are murky—records from that era weren't always reliable.

Weights hovered around 6.45 grams of .900 fine gold, making these coins a solid bet for value, if you could hold onto one. Some got melted down in economic scrambles, which might explain why they're not as plentiful as you'd think. As for myths, I've heard tales of hidden treasures in old Belgian attics, but that's just collectors' fancy—most were everyday currency.

No one knows precisely how many slipped through the cracks of history.