Belgian euro coins

Belgian euro coins feature only a single design for all eight coins: the portrait or effigy of the incumbent King of the Belgians. Previously, all Belgian euros depicted King Albert II and his royal monogram. Current coins depict King Philippe. Also part of the design by Jan Alfons Keustermans are the 12 stars of the EU and the year of imprint.

Belgian euro design

For images of the common side and a detailed description of the coins, see euro coins.

In Belgium, the euro was introduced in 2002. However, the first sets of coins were minted, as preparation, in 1999. Hence the first euro coins of Belgium are marked 1999, not 2002.

Reign of Albert II

First series (1999–2007)

Belgian euro coins dated 1999–2007 have the portrait of King Albert II.

Prior to 2007, the old common side showing national borders was used, but the 2007 coins used the new common side without borders.[1]

Depiction of Belgian euro coinage | Obverse side
€ 0.01 € 0.02 € 0.05
Effigy and monogram of King Albert II
€ 0.10 € 0.20 € 0.50
Effigy and monogram of King Albert II
€ 1.00 € 2.00 € 2 Coin Edge
for a total of 12 stars
Effigy and monogram of King Albert II

Second series (2008)

In order to conform to the common guidelines on the design of national faces of coins, Belgium updated the design of the Belgian national face of euro coins to be produced from 2008. Coins from previous years featuring the old Belgian national face remain valid.

The changes are:

  • The coin's inner section shows an effigy of King Albert II in profile facing to the left.
  • To the right of this, the royal monogram is displayed and, below it, the indication of the country ‘BE’.
  • Underneath the effigy, the signature mark of the Master of the Mint is displayed on the left and the mint mark on the right, either side of the year.
  • The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.

As from 2007, the Belgian euro coins also adopted the new common map like the rest of the eurozone countries. A proportion of the Belgian 2 euro coins -common part, the map looks smooth, whereas, the same map on the euros coming from other eurozone countries is dotted.

Belgium is the second state in the EMU, after Finland, to, from 2008 on, change the design of their standard circulation euro coins in accordance with recommendations defined by the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the European Union.[2]

Depiction of Belgian euro coinage | Obverse side
€ 0.01 € 0.02 € 0.05
Effigy and monogram of King Albert II
€ 0.10 € 0.20 € 0.50
Effigy and monogram of King Albert II
€ 1.00 € 2.00 € 2 Coin Edge
for a total of 12 stars
Effigy and monogram of King Albert II

Amendment (2009-2013)

The 2008 portrait did not comply with previous decisions by the ECOFIN in 2005 and 2008. Therefore, an amendment was made, which reverted to the portrait of Albert II found in the 2002 series. Mint marks, year and stars remain the same. Some collectors consider this as a third series but since unlike all series it was not published in the official journal of the European Union, it is actually an amendment and not a new series.[1][3]

Reign of Philippe

Third series (2014–present)

Following the accession of King Philippe after the abdication of Albert II, new distinctive sides were added depicting the new monarch.

Coins with the new obverse were struck from 4 February 2014.[4] The obverses were designed by Luc Luycx.[5]

Depiction of Belgian euro coinage | Obverse side
€ 0.01 € 0.02 € 0.05
Effigy and monogram of King Philippe
€ 0.10 € 0.20 € 0.50
Effigy and monogram of King Philippe
€ 1.00 € 2.00 € 2 Coin Edge
for a total of 12 stars
Effigy and monogram of King Philippe

Circulating mintage quantities

The following table shows the mintage quantity for all Belgian euro coins, per denomination, per year.[6]

Face Value €0,01 €0,02 €0,05 €0,10 €0,20 €0,50 €1,00 €2,00
1999 235.250.387 50.387 300.050.387 181.000.387 50.387 197.050.387 160.050.387 50.387
2000 50.388 337.050.388 50.388 50.388 181.050.388 50.388 50.388 120.050.388
2001 99.850.388 50.388 50.388 145.800.388 50.388 50.388 50.388 50.388
2002 147.866 147.866 147.866 147.866 104.147.866 50.147.866 84.647.866 50.147.866
2003 10.192.866 40.192.866 30.192.866 197.966 30.192.866 197.966 6.192.866 30.192.866
2004 180.073.262 159.323.262 80.073.262 20.073.262 70.073.262 15.073.262 15.073.262 60.073.262
2005 56.018 56.018 110.056.018 10.056.018 10.056.018 56.018 56.018 10.533.006
2006 15.050.018 30.050.018 35.050.018 50.018 40.050.018 50.018 50.018 20.050.018
2007 60.057.006 70.057.006 57.006 57.006 25.117.287 5.057.006 57.006 35.042.006
2008 42.506 42.506 42.506 42.506 20.062.506 25.042.506 5.042.506 20.042.506
2009 19.991.006 10.041.006 41.006 41.006 30.141.006 30.041.006 10.041.006 10.041.006
2010 30.143.850 20.043.850 25.043.850 20.043.850 15.093.850 43.850 43.850 15.043.850
2011 10.018.850 43.850 25.043.850 25.043.850 40.293.850 15.043.850 15.043.850 32.043.850
2012 19.983.850 15.033.850 22.533.850 25.033.850 42.383.850 30.033.850 10.033.850 23.850
2013 70.025.500 32.650.500 17.025.500 5.025.500 25.500 25.500 25.500 25.500
2014 74.109 3.199.109 14.574.109 74.109 74.109 10.074.109 74.109 74.109
2015 14.921.367 21.921.367 10.046.367 11.046.367 46.367 10.046.367 46.367 46.367
2016 28.902.160 17.027.160 28.527.160 27.160 27.160 2.027.160 27.160 27.160
2017 1.657.942 23.442 48.467.942 3.023.442 23.442 5.023.442 23.442 23.442
Bold - Small quantities minted for sets only.

Identifying marks
Main article: Identifying marks on euro coins
National Identifier "BE"
Mint Mark
Engravers Initials None
€2 Edge inscription

Belgian proof set
Main article: Euro proof sets

Each year the Royal Belgian Mint issues a limited edition of its euro coins in proof quality.

€2 commemorative coins

Other commemorative coins (collectors' coins)
Main article: Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Belgium)
Main article: Euro gold and silver commemorative coins

Belgium has a good collection of euro commemorative coins, solely in silver and gold. Their face values range from 10 euros to 100 euros. This is mainly done as a legacy of old national practice of minting gold and silver coins. These coins are not really intended to be used as means of payment, so generally they do not circulate.

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References
  1. "Belgian Euro Coins". Euro Coin Collector. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
  2. "Oj 2005/ L 186/1" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union. 18 July 2005.
  3. "Belgium 2008 and 2009". euroHOBBY. 2011-01-16. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
  4. Premières pièces de monnaie à l'effigie du Roi sur le site officiel de la Monarchie belge Archived June 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Les futures pièces belges : le roi Philippe avec ou sans lunettes ?, La Nouvelle Gazette.be, 13 septembre 2013.
  6. "Mintage quantities of the euro coins". Euro-Coins.Info. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
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