12 1/2 Euros - Albert II - Dynasty Anniversary

Issued to mark the 175th anniversary of the Belgian dynasty, this small gold piece arrives at a politically charged moment: in 2011, Belgium had just broken its own world record for the longest period without a functioning government, surpassing 249 days of caretaker administration following the June 2010 elections. The irony of commemorating monarchical continuity while parliament remained deadlocked was not lost on observers.

The 1.25g format places it in a fractional series aimed squarely at the collector market rather than circulation.