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25 Francs - Léopold I Pattern
| Issuer | Royal Belgian Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1847 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 25 Francs (25 BEF) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays the elaborate crowned coat of arms of Belgium, featuring the Belgian lion rampant on a quartered shield, supported by two rampant lions as heraldic supporters, all set upon a mantled and draped escutcheon. The denomination 25 Fcs appears to the right of the shield, with the weight specification 7,915, the date 1847, and the fineness mark 900/M inscribed in the lower exergual area. The patriotic motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Unity Makes Strength) arcs across the upper field within a denticulated border. The arms are rendered in high relief with exceptional detail befitting a pattern piece. |
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| Reverse lettering | L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE 25 Fcs 7,915 1847 900/M |
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| Additional information |
Pattern issues from the Royal Belgian Mint in this period were typically produced to test proposed denominations or compositional changes, and the 1847 date places this piece squarely in the later years of Léopold I's reign — a period of relative monetary stability following the turbulent coinage reforms of the 1830s that accompanied Belgian independence. A 25-franc denomination in bronze is a peculiar proposition; the circulating 25-franc pieces of the kingdom were struck in gold, making a bronze equivalent almost certainly a presentation or test striking rather than a serious circulation proposal.
The absence of standard catalog references in KM, Moran, and LA suggests this survives in very few examples, possibly a single known specimen.