1909 Belgium 2 Francs

This 1909 2 Francs coin marks the end of King Leopold II's reign, as it was struck just months before his death in December of that year.

Such coins often featured his portrait on the obverse, a design choice that reflected Belgium's monarchical traditions without much fanfare. The reverse showed the Belgian coat of arms, complete with lions and a crown, all in .835 fine silver.

Mintage figures are murky; official records from the Brussels Mint for 1909 might have been affected by later wars. I once handled a specimen with a telltale die crack on the edge, a flaw that makes it slightly more collectible but hardly rare.

Circulation was brief, given the political shift to King Albert I. That said, it's a straightforward piece of currency from a pivotal year.

Provenance can be tricky with these; many ended up in hoards during World War I.