Belgian euro coins
Belgian euro coins feature only a single design for all eight coins: the portrait or effigy of King Albert II of the Belgians and his royal monogram. 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.
First series (2002–2007)
Belgian euro coins dated 1999–2007 have the portrait of King Albert II.
| € 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.[1]
| € 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 | ||
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.[2] It is expected that the design of the coins will be changed for Philippe, who became King of Belgians on 21 July 2013.
Circulating Mintage quantities
The following table shows the mintage quantity for all Belgian euro coins, per denomination, per year (the numbers are represented in millions).[3]
| Face Value | €0.01 | €0.02 | €0.05 | €0.10 | €0.20 | €0.50 | €1.00 | €2.00 | €2.00 Commemorative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 235.2 | *** | 300.0 | 180.9 | *** | 197.0 | 160.0 | *** | * |
| 2000 | *** | 337.0 | *** | *** | 181.0 | *** | *** | 120.0 | * |
| 2001 | 99.8 | *** | *** | 145.75 | *** | *** | *** | *** | * |
| 2002 | *** | *** | *** | 0.09083 | 104.0 | 50.02 | 84.53 | 50.0 | * |
| 2003 | 10.03 | 40.01 | 30.06 | ** | 30.0 | ** | 6.0 | 30.03 | * |
| 2004 | 180.0 | 149.2 | 75.0 | 20.0 | 70.0 | 8.0 | 15.0 | 60.0 | * |
| 2005 | *** | *** | 110.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | *** | *** | 10.5 | 6.0 |
| 2006 | 15.0 | 30.0 | 35.0 | *** | 40.0 | *** | *** | 20.0 | 5.0 |
| 2007 | 60.0 | 70.0 | *** | *** | 25.0 | 5.0 | *** | 40.0 | 5.0 |
| 2008 | *** | *** | *** | *** | 20.0 | 25.0 | 5.0 | 25.0 | 5.0 |
| 2009 | 19.95 | 10.0 | *** | *** | 30.1 | 30.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| 2010 | 30.0 | 20.0 | 25.0 | 20.0 | 15.0 | *** | *** | 15.0 | 5.0 |
| 2011 | 10.0 | * | 25.0 | 25.0 | 40.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 40.0 | 5.0 |
| 2012 | 19.5 | 15.0 | 22.5 | 25.0 | 42.5 | 30.0 | * | * | 10.0 |
|
* No coins were minted that year for that denomination | |||||||||
Identifying marks
| National Identifier | "BE" |
| Mint Mark |  |
| Engravers Initials | None |
| €2 Edge inscription |  |
Belgian proof set
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)
Belgium has a good collection of euro commemorative coins, solely in silver and gold. Their face value range from 10 euro to 100 euro. 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.
References
- ↑ "Oj 2005/ L 186/1". Official Journal of the European Union. 18 July 2005.
- ↑ http://myeurohobby.eu
- ↑ "Circulating Mintage quantities". Henning Agt. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belgian euro coins. |
- Nationale Bank van België / Banque Nationale de Belgique (National Bank of Belgium)
- The Euro Information Website – Belgium – Series 1 Series 2
- euroHOBBY Belgium
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