During World War II, the Belgian government needed to mint coins using metal that would not be needed for the war effort. Therefore, silver coinage was discontinued and coins were instead minted using pure zinc.
In 1944, shortly before the Liberation, the Allies minted 25 million 2 franc coins at the Philadelphia Mint, which were put in circulation after Belgium regained its independence.
Occupation coinage
One Franc
The 1 Franc coin was circulated through Belgium from 1941.
Belgique-Belgie lettering YearMintageNotes194116,000,000194225,000,000194328,000,00019473,175,000Rare
Belgie-Belgique lettering YearMintageNotes194242,000,000194328,000,000194424,190,000194515,930,000194636,000,00019473,000,000Rare
Five Francs
The 5 franc coin was minted between 1941 and 1947, first by the Germans during the occupation of Belgium, and then by the Belgian government after the end of World War II. The coin composed of 100% zinc, and was an emergency issue type.
YearMintageNotes194115,200,000194316,236,0001943Rare19441,868,000Rare19453,200,000Rare19468,452,000Rare19473,100,000Rare
Five Centimes The 5 centimes coin was minted between 1941 and 1943 during the German occupation. The coin composed of 100% zinc, and was an emergency issue type. There are also two varieties. The Centime is a sub-unit of the franc. It is 1/100 of a franc.
Belgique-Belgie lettering YearMintageNotes194110,000,00019437,606,000
Belgie-Belgique lettering YearMintageNotes19414,000,000194218,430,000
Ten Centimes
The 10 centimes coin was minted between 1941 and 1946, first by the Germans during the occupation of Belgium, and then by the Belgian government after World War II ended. The coin composed of 100% zinc, and was an emergency issue type. There are also two different varieties.
Belgique-Belgie lettering YearMintageNotes194110,000,000194217,000,000194322,500,0001945Rare194610,370,000Rare
Belgie-Belgique lettering YearMintageNotes19417,000,000194221,000,000194322,000,000194428,000,00019458,000,000194610,370,000
Twenty-five Centimes
The 25 centimes coin was minted between 1941 and 1947, first by the Germans during the occupation, and then by the Belgian government after World War II ended. The coin composed of 100% zinc, and was an emergency issue type. There are also two different varieties.
Belgique-Belgie lettering YearMintageNotes1941Rare194214,400,000194321,600,0001945Rare194621,428,0001947300,000Rare (Not circulated)
Belgie-Belgique lettering YearMintageNotes194214,400,000194321,600,000194425,960,00019458,200,000194611,652,0001947316,000 (Est. mintage)Rare
Liberation coinage
Two Francs
The 2 franc coin was minted by the United States in 1944 in preparation for the Allied liberation of Belgium. The coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint on zinc-coated steel blanks associated with the later blank specification adopted for the 1943 U.S. steel cent. Surviving specimens exhibit variation in weight, including specimens corresponding to the later, higher-weight blank specification. The available evidence does not indicate that these blanks were specifically manufactured for the 1944 Belgian 2-franc production.
YearMintageNotes194425,000,000Surviving population unknown; many were surrendered during demonetization, with subsequent disposition unknown. References