1930 Belgium 100 Francs

This 1930 Belgian 100 Francs coin boasts a reverse design featuring a striding lion, its Art Deco curves evoking the era's machine-age optimism despite the global economic slump.

That lion, rendered with sharp geometric lines and minimal flourishes, was the work of engraver Lucien De Braeckeleer. He drew from influences like Paris exhibitions, giving the coin a modern edge that set it apart from earlier Belgian issues. The obverse shows King Albert I in profile, a nod to stability in turbulent times.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from the Brussels Mint can be spotty. What is clear is that these coins were struck in gold, making them a rare survivor from Belgium's interwar currency reforms.

Most end up in collections, not circulation, which is just as well. They weren't built for pocket change.