Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 20 Francs 1931-1932, KM# 102, Belgium, Albert I
  • 20 Francs 1931-1932, KM# 102, Belgium, Albert I
Description

Albert I (1875–1934) reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 to 1934. This was an eventful period in the History of Belgium, which included the period of World War I (1914–1918), when 90 percent of Belgium was overrun, occupied, and ruled by the German Empire. Other crucial issues included the adoption of the Treaty of Versailles, the ruling of the Belgian Congo as an overseas possession of the Kingdom of Belgium along with the League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi, the reconstruction of Belgium following the war, and the first five years of the Great Depression (1929–1934). King Albert died in a mountaineering accident in eastern Belgium in 1934, at the age of 58, and he was succeeded by his son Leopold.

In 1926, the new government Jaspar works out a stabilizing program for the Belgian Franc. The introduction of the Belga currency was one of several components of the plan. One Belga was equal to 5 Belgian francs. In order to clearly distinguish this new Belgian valuta against the other currencies, especially the French Franc, all exchange operations had to be realised in Belga.

However, the Belgian Franc did not disappear, because the newly issued coins and notes always mentioned their value in both the Belga as the Belgian Franc currency. 1927 saw appearing the first notes mentioning both currencies and 3 years later ‘Belga-Franc’ coins appeared on the market.

Obverse

Depicts the portrait of Albert I of Belgium (left) surrounded by the Dutch legend "Albert King of the Belgians". Engraver's initials below.

Engraver: Armand Bonnetain

·ALBERT·KONING· ·DER·BELGEN·
A.B.

Reverse

Depicts the Middle version of the Coat of arms of Belgium dividing denomination, value in Belga above, engraver's initials and date below.

The Middle coat of arms consists of the shield, the royal crown, the crossed sceptres, the collar of the Order of Leopold. The shield bears a lion known as Leo Belgicus (Latin: the Belgian lion). Behind the shield are placed a hand of justice and a sceptre with a lion. The grand collar of the Order of Leopold surrounds the shield.

Engraver: Godefroid Devreese

VIER BELGA
20 FR
1931
G.D.

Edge

Position A: value facing up, text is readable
Position B: value facing up, text is not readable

* BELGIQUE * BELGIE *

20 Francs (4 Belga)

Dutch Text
KM# 102 Schön# 56 LA# BFM-166
Characteristics
Material Nickel
Weight 20 g
Diameter 37 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Royal Belgian Mint

Related coins

French Text

Nickel, 20 g, ⌀ 37 mm
French Text

Silver, 11 g, ⌀ 28 mm
Dutch Text

Silver, 11 g, ⌀ 28 mm