1965 Belgium 5 Francs

The 1965 Belgian 5 Francs coin is remarkable for its reverse design, which prominently features the Belgian lion rampant, a heraldic symbol from the 1830s that outlasted kings and empires.

Struck at the Brussels Mint from copper-nickel planchets, this coin entered circulation amid Belgium's post-war economic recovery. Its obverse bears the profile of King Baudouin I, a no-frills portrait that reflects the era's understated style. Measuring 29 millimeters in diameter, it weighed about 10 grams and saw widespread use for small purchases.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that period weren't always meticulous. Still, it's a straightforward piece, devoid of the drama some assign to older francs.

One might note the irony in how a coin once exchanged for a baguette now sits in albums, its value more sentimental than practical.