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12 1/2 Euros - Albert II King Leopold III - Dynasty Anniversary
| Issuer | Royal Mint of Belgium |
|---|---|
| Year | 2009 |
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| Composition | Gold (.999) |
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| Reverse description | A heraldic lion, the traditional symbol of Belgium, is depicted with one paw resting upon the Belgian Constitution of 1831, referencing the foundational charter of the modern Belgian state. The face value 12 1/2 EURO appears beneath the central device. The country name is inscribed in Belgium's three official languages along the upper field: BELGIE - BELGIQUE - BELGIEN, with the designation PP indicating Proof quality. |
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| Reverse lettering | BELGIE - BELGIQUE - BELGIEN 12 1/2 EURO PP |
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| Additional information |
Issued to mark the 175th anniversary of the Belgian dynasty, this miniature gold piece belongs to a series the Royal Mint of Belgium produced in the €12.50 denomination — an unusual face value designed specifically for small-format bullion and collector issues rather than any circulation purpose. The pairing of Albert II with Leopold III is historically loaded: Leopold III's wartime conduct, including his decision to surrender to Germany in 1940 and remain in occupied Belgium, triggered the so-called "Royal Question" that nearly fractured the country and ultimately forced his abdication in 1951 in favor of his son Baudouin.
Albert II is Leopold III's younger son. That the dynasty could commission a joint commemorative six decades after that constitutional crisis says something about Belgian institutional memory.