1876 Belgium 2 Francs

The 1876 Belgian 2 Francs coin bears a portrait of King Leopold II that subtly reflects his growing influence, struck just as he began plotting his Congo Free State ambitions.

This silver piece, composed of 0.835 fine silver as per the Latin Monetary Union standards, weighs about 10 grams and measures 27 millimeters in diameter. The obverse shows Leopold II's bust facing left, while the reverse displays the Belgian coat of arms encircled by the denomination and date. Mintage figures for that year are murky; records from the Brussels Mint were inconsistent in the 19th century, so exact numbers remain uncertain.

Variations exist, with some coins showing a polished die that gives a sharper edge, though die errors are rare. As for circulation, these coins circulated widely in Belgium and neighboring countries under the Union, often ending up in pockets far from home.

That reminds me of how these francs sometimes turned up in odd places, like a fishmonger's till in Antwerp—proving coins, like kings, have a way of wandering.