Catalog
100 Francs
| Issuer | Banque Nationale de Belgique |
|---|---|
| Year | 1852 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | Black intaglio print on cream paper, with an elaborate engraved border composed of guilloche ornaments and decorative vignettes. Allegorical figure of Minerva appears in an oval medallion at left, Mercury at right, each framed within intricate scroll cartouches; four cherubs occupy the corners in recumbent poses. The Royal Arms of Belgium are engraved at bottom center, flanked by additional ornamental devices, with the denomination numeral 100 at upper left and upper right within the border. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | LOI DU 5 MAI 1850 100 ROYALME DE BELGIQUE 100 BANQUE NATIONALE Payable à Vue LA LOI PUNIT CELUI QUI CONTREFAIT OU FALSIFIE LES BILETES DE LA BANQUE NATIONALE CENT FRANCS Bruxelles, le 1 Juin 1852 (Translation: Law of May 5, 1850 Kingdom of Belgium National Bank Payable on sight The law punishes the one who counterfeits or falsifies the notes of the National Bank One Hundred Francs Brussels, June 1st., 1852) |
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| Comments |
The Banque Nationale de Belgique was established by royal decree in 1850, and this 1852 issue came remarkably early in the institution's life — the bank had barely completed its organizational framework before putting notes of this denomination into circulation. Léopold Wiener, better known as a medalist and engraver of coins at the Royal Belgian Mint, brought a die-cutter's discipline to the design work, unusual for a banknote commission of this period.
Pick 46 is scarce in any condition. Early Belgian National Bank issues suffered heavy attrition through redemption campaigns and two world wars of archival disruption.