Coin
50 Centimes - Léopold II Dutch text (1901) — Belgium
Belgium • 1901 • KM#51, LA#BFM-69, Mor#193, Schön#5
Overview
No description
Specifications
- Country
- Belgium
- Year
- 1901
- Composition
- Silver (.835) (16.5% copper)
- Weight
- 2.5 g
- Diameter
- 18 mm
- Thickness
- 1.05 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM#51, LA#BFM-69, Mor#193, Schön#5
- Issuer
- Belgium
Design details
Obverse
The portrait in left profile of Leopold II of Belgium surrounded by the legend in Dutch. Script: Latin. Lettering: LEOPOLD II KONING DER BELGEN. Translation: Leopold II, King of the Belgians.
Reverse
A sitting lion, date at left, value and designer below. Motto in Dutch on top. Script: Latin. Lettering: EENDRACHT MAAKT MACHT 1901 50 CEN VINÇOTTE. Unabridged legend: Centiemen. Translation: Unity Makes Strength.
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Thomas Vinçotte is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Mintage vs. survival: A moderate mintage of 3,000,000. Grade rarity is usually the driver of value here — mid-grade circulated pieces are common, but original-surface uncirculated coins can command a strong premium.
- Precious metal content: Silver (.835) (16.5% copper) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM#51, LA#BFM-69, Mor#193, Schön#5. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
During the reign of Leopold II, Belgium utilized a bilingual currency system reflecting the linguistic diversity of the nation. The 1901 50 Centimes issue was part of the Dutch-text series, which circulated alongside French-text counterparts during a period of sustained economic growth. As a member of the Latin Monetary Union, Belgium maintained strict standards for silver content to ensure exchangeability with the coinage of neighboring member states.
Design heritage
The obverse features the left-facing profile of Leopold II as rendered by the renowned Belgian sculptor and medalist Thomas Vinçotte. The reverse depicts a seated lion, a traditional heraldic symbol of the Belgian state, accompanied by the national motto in Dutch. Vinçotte's signature appears prominently on the reverse, marking his significant role in defining the late 19th-century numismatic profile of the monarchy.
Varieties and technical notes
Standard examples of this 18mm round coin feature a reeded edge and a milled finish, produced at the Royal Mint of Belgium in Brussels. Collectors typically look for differences in the strike quality of the lion's mane and the clarity of the designer's name. Minor rotation errors are known to occur sporadically within this series, though the 1901 date is generally consistent in its technical execution.
Survival and modern availability
The mintage for this 1901 issue reached 3,000,000 pieces, a substantial total that allowed for significant circulation. While large quantities were likely melted following the collapse of the Latin Monetary Union standards or during later wartime metal recalls, the coin remains relatively accessible to collectors in mid-grade. High-grade specimens remain scarce due to the soft nature of the .835 silver alloy and the effects of long-term commercial usage.
Related pieces
Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view Belgium in the country guide.