🔎 About the 1941 Belgian 5 Francs Coin

The 1941 5 Francs coin was issued during the German occupation of Belgium in World War II. Despite foreign control, the coin retained traditional Belgian imagery, including the crowned lion and national motto, along with bilingual inscriptions.

This version bears the French-first inscription “Roi des Belges” ("King of the Belgians"), commonly circulated in the French-speaking region of Wallonia and Brussels.

Specifications:

• Material: Zinc

• Weight: 6.00 grams

• Diameter: 26.5 mm

• Edge: Plain

• Language: French-first ("Roi des Belges")

• Issued by: German Military Administration in Belgium

• Years of mintage: 1941–1943

Due to wartime metal shortages, these coins were struck in zinc, which corrodes easily. As a result, well-preserved specimens are increasingly rare.

🕰 Historical Significance

The coin was minted under the Militärverwaltung in Belgien und Nordfrankreich (Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France), which governed the occupied territories from 1940 to 1944. Despite the German oversight, the coin's design remained largely unchanged from the pre-war period — a subtle form of cultural continuity amid suppression.

The use of zinc reflects the economic hardship and resource scarcity of wartime Europe, where traditional metals like copper and nickel were redirected toward the war effort.

💡 Collecting Notes

• Language Variant: Your version with “Des Belges” (French-first) contrasts with coins marked “Der Belgen” (Dutch-first), making it a valuable piece for collectors interested in regional variants.

• Storage Tip: Zinc is prone to corrosion; store the coin in a dry, acid-free holder to preserve its condition.

• Contextual Display: This coin pairs well with other WWII-era occupation currencies, offering insights into how daily life adapted under control and constraint.

Adding this coin to your collection not only preserves a piece of numismatic history — it carries with it the quiet story of a nation's identity surviving through occupation, etched in metal and language.