Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Kingdom of Belgium
Leopold II
5 Francs
比利時王國
利奧波德二世
5法郎
Item number: A1212
Year: AD 1870
Material: Sliver
Size: 37.4 x 37.4 x 2.5 mm
Weight: 24.85 g
Manufactured by: Royal Mint of Belgium
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This is a 5-franc silver coin issued by the Kingdom of Belgium, with a minting date of AD 1870. The obverse features the Belgian coat of arms, centrally depicting a lion, crowned at the top, with the denomination of 5 francs inscribed on either side. The outer border is adorned with foliage. The upper inscription bears the national motto: “Unity is Strength,” while the year of issuance is inscribed at the bottom. The reverse side displays the portrait of the monarch, encircled by the French inscription: “Leopold II, King of the Belgians.” Below the portrait, the small inscription “LEOP WIENER” indicates the engraver’s signature.
Under the reign of Leopold II, Belgium transitioned from a newly established lowland nation into one of the colonial powers involved in the partition of Africa. However, Leopold II’s rule over the Congo Free State—a personal possession of the king rather than a formal colony—was marked by widespread enslavement and abuse of the local population. The construction of rubber plantations and the implementation of a forced labor quota system are estimated to have resulted in the deaths of around 10 million people.
In recent years, the fate of statues of Leopold II in Belgium has become a central topic in discussions about transitional justice. Some argue that he was a racist and a key figure in human trafficking, while others view him as a part of the country’s colonial history. With the global rise of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, the Belgian government has removed some of these statues to prevent them from being vandalised, reflecting a growing reckoning with the colonial past.