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 of the Belgians 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.

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.^[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

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.^[2]

Reign of Philippe

Third series (2014-present)

Following the coronation 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.^[3] The obverses were designed by Luc Luycx.^[4]

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 (the numbers are represented in millions).^[5]

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 ** Data not available yet *** Small quantities minted for sets only

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 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.

References

1. "Oj 2005/ L 186/1" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union. 18 July 2005.
2. http://myeurohobby.eu
3. 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.
4. Les futures pièces belges : le roi Philippe avec ou sans lunettes ?, La Nouvelle Gazette.be, 13 septembre 2013.
5. "Circulating Mintage quantities". Henning Agt. Retrieved 2008-08-22.

External links

• Nationale Bank van België / Banque Nationale de Belgique (National Bank of Belgium)
• The Euro Information Website – Belgium – Series 1 Series 2
• euroHOBBY Belgium