1934 Eucharistic Congress 5 Francs

The 1934 Belgian 5 Francs coin for the Eucharistic Congress features a reverse design by Lucien De Bie that directly depicts a chalice and host, making it one of the few Belgian coins to incorporate explicit religious symbolism.

This silver piece was struck at the Brussels Mint during a year when Belgium was hosting the 31st International Eucharistic Congress in Brussels. It weighs about 18 grams and measures 31 millimeters across, typical for the era's franc coins. The obverse shows King Albert I, a standard element for Belgian currency at the time.

Mintage figures are murky; records from that period were poorly kept, so exact numbers remain uncertain. What I do know is that it circulated widely, which surprises newcomers who expect rarities from religious events.

Plenty of myths circulate about these coins being blessed or carrying divine protection. They're just coins.