1920 Belgium 5 Francs

The 1920 Belgian 5 Francs was struck from .835 fine silver, a composition chosen to rebuild confidence in the currency after World War I's devastation.

That silver content wasn't just a holdover from pre-war standards; it reflected Belgium's urgent need to recirculate coins amid economic chaos. The obverse shows King Albert I in profile, a design that debuted that year to signify stability. On the reverse, the coat of arms underscores the nation's resilience.

Mintage figures for this coin are murky, as records from the era were poorly kept. I've seen variants with minor die differences, which keep things interesting for us old hands.

Grading these can be tricky; wartime circulation left many with wear that tells its own story.