| Belgian franc Belgische frank (Dutch) franc belge (French) Belgischer Franken (German) |
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| ISO 4217 Code | BEF | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| User(s) | Belgium, Luxembourg | ||||
| ERM | |||||
| Since | 13 March 1979 | ||||
| Fixed rate since | 31 December 1998 | ||||
| Replaced by €, non cash | 1 January 1999 | ||||
| Replaced by €, cash | 1 January 2002 | ||||
| € = | 40. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by The European Exchange Rate Mechanism, ERM, was a system introduced by the European Community in March 1979 as part of the European Monetary System (EMS Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e 3399 francs | ||||
| Subunit | |||||
| 1/100 | centiem (Dutch) centime (French) Centime (German) |
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| Symbol | fr. A currency sign is a graphic symbol often used as a shorthand for a Currency 's name | ||||
| centiem (Dutch) centime (French) Centime (German) |
c. c. |
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| Plural | frank (franken until c. Plural is a Grammatical number, typically referring to more than one of the Referent in the real world 1920) (Dutch) francs (French) |
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| centiem (Dutch) centime (French) Centime (German) |
centiemen (Dutch) centimes (French) |
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| Coins | |||||
| Freq. used | 1, 5, 20, 50 fr. | ||||
| Rarely used | 50 c. | ||||
| Banknotes | |||||
| Freq. used | 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 fr. | ||||
| Rarely used | 10,000 fr. | ||||
| Central bank | National Bank of Belgium | ||||
| Website | www.nbb.be | ||||
| This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is the entity responsible for the Monetary policy of a country or of a group of member states The National Bank of Belgium ( Nationale Bank van België in Dutch, Banque nationale de Belgique in French, and Belgische Nationalbank | |||||
The franc (Dutch : frank - French : franc - German : Franken) was the currency of Belgium until 2002 when the euro was introduced into circulation. Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e It was subdivided into 100 centiem (Dutch), centimes (French) or Centime (German).
Contents |
History
The conquest of most of western Europe by revolutionary and Napoleonic France led to the French franc's wide circulation. The franc (represented by the franc sign ₣ or more commonly just F) is a former Currency of France. In the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium), the franc replaced the kronenthaler. The Southern Netherlands (Zuidelijke Nederlanden Países Bajos del Sur Pays-Bas du sud were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain ( Spanish The kronenthaler was the currency of the Austrian Netherlands (modern Belgium) This was in turn replaced by the Dutch gulden when the Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed. The Netherlands and The Kingdom of the Netherlands are two distinct geographical and administrative entities
Following independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the new Kingdom of Belgium in 1832 adopted its own franc, equivalent to the French franc, followed by Luxembourg in 1848 and Switzerland in 1850. Year 1832 ( MDCCCXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian The franc (represented by the franc sign ₣ or more commonly just F) is a former Currency of France. Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link Newly-unified Italy adopted the lira on a similar basis in 1862. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The lira (plural lire) was the Currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002 Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday
In 1865 France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy created the Latin Monetary Union (to be joined by Greece in 1868): each would possess a national currency unit (franc, lira, drachma) worth 4. Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The Latin Monetary Union ( LMU) was a 19th century attempt to unify several European currencies into a single currency that could be Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap 5 g of silver or 290. 322 mg of fine gold, all freely exchangeable at a rate of 1:1. Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 In the 1870s the gold value was made the fixed standard, a situation which was to continue until 1914. Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
In 1926, Belgium, as well as France, experienced depreciation and an abrupt collapse of confidence, leading to the introduction of a new gold currency for international transactions, the belga worth 5 francs, and the country's withdrawal from the monetary union, which ceased to exist at the end of the year. Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The belga was tied to the British pound at a rate of 35 belgas (175 francs) = 1 pound and was thus put on a gold standard of 1 belga = 209. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency The gold standard is a monetary system in which a region's common media of exchange are paper notes that are normally freely convertible into pre-set fixed quantities of Gold 211 mg fine gold. The 1921 monetary union of Belgium and Luxembourg survived, however, forming the basis for full economic union in 1932. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. In 1935, the Belgian franc was devalued by 28% to 150. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 632 mg fine gold and the link between the Luxembourg and Belgian francs was revised to 1 Luxembourgish franc = 1¼ Belgian francs.
Following Belgium's occupation by Germany in May, 1940, the franc was fixed at a value of 0. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. 1 Reichsmark, reduced to 0. For a detailed discussion of the English translation of Reich, see Reich. 08 Reichsmark in July, 1940. Following liberation in 1944, the franc entered into the Bretton Woods system, with an initial exchange rate of 43. The Bretton Woods system of monetary management established the rules for commercial and financial relations among the world's major industrial states 77 francs = US dollar set on October 5. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople This was changed to 43. 8275 in 1946 and then to 50 following the devaluation of the British pound in September 1949. The Belgian franc was devaluated again in 1982.
Like 10 other European currencies, the Belgian/Luxembourgish franc ceased to exist in January 1, 1999, when it became fixed at 1 EUR= 40. The franc ( French, Frang Franken was the Currency of Luxembourg between 1854 and 1999 (except during the period 1941 and 1944 New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) 3399 BEF/LUF, thus a franc was worth € 0. 024789. Old franc coins and notes lost their legal tender status in February 28, 2002. Legal tender or forced tender is Payment that by Law, cannot be refused in settlement of a Debt ( Debtor cannot successfully be sued Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule
Linguistics
Initially, the currency was monolingual in French. However, Dutch language coins were introduced from 1869. Some later coins featured inscriptions in both languages. When the two languages appeared on either side of the same face of a coin, two versions were still produced, one with Dutch to the left and French to the right, and one with the alternate arrangement. Banknotes became bilingual in the 1880s and, from 1992, banknotes were introduced which were trilingual, with either French or Dutch on the obverse and German and the remaining language on the reverse. Some commemorative coins were issued with German inscriptions but none for circulation.
Use of Luxembourgish francs in Belgium
Between 1944 and 2002, 1 Luxembourgish franc was equal to 1 Belgian franc. Both francs were legal tender in the two countries. Nevertheless, payment with Luxembourgish banknotes were commonly denied by shopkeepers in Belgium, either by ignorance or by fear that their other customers would refuse the banknotes (again, either by ignorance or fear of being denied payment with it later), forcing them to go through the hassle of a trip to their bank to redeem the value of the banknote.
Coins
Between 1832 and 1834, copper 1, 2, 5 and 10 centimes, silver ¼, ½, 1, 2 and 5 francs, and gold 20 and 40 francs coins were introduced. Some of the early 1 and 2 centimes were struck over Dutch ½ and 1 cent coins. The 40 francs was not issued after 1841, whilst silver 2½ francs and gold 10 and 25 francs were issued between 1848 and 1850. Silver 20 centimes replaced the ¼ franc in 1852. In 1860, cupro-nickel 20 centimes were introduced, followed by cupro-nickel 5 and 10 centimes in 1861. Cupronickel or Coppernickel is an Alloy of Copper, Nickel and strengthening impurities such as Iron and Manganese. The silver 5 francs was discontinued in 1876. Between 1901 and 1908, holed, cupro-nickel 5, 10 and 25 centimes coins were introduced.
In 1914, production of the 1 centime and all silver and gold coins ceased. Zinc 5, 10 and 25 centimes were introduced in the German occupied zone, followed by holed, zinc 50 centimes in 1918. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Production of 2 centimes ended in 1919. In 1922 and 1923, nickel 50 centimes and 1 and 2 francs coins were introduced bearing the text "Good For" ("Bon pour" in French, "Goed Voor" in Dutch). Nickel-brass replaced cupro-nickel in the 5 and 10 centimes in 1930, followed by the 25 centimes in 1938. Nickel 5 and 20 francs were introduced in 1930 and 1931, respectively, followed by silver 20 francs in 1933 and 50 francs in 1939.
As a consequence of the German occupation in 1940, the silver coinage was discontinued. In 1941, zinc replaced all other metals in the 5, 10 and 25 centimes, 1 and 5 francs. In 1944 the Allies minted 25 million 2 franc coins at the Philadelphia Mint using leftover planchets for the 1943 steel cent. The Philadelphia Mint was created from the need to establish a national identity and the needs of commerce in the United States. The 1943 steel cent was a variety of the US one-cent coin which was struck in steel due to wartime shortages of copper In 1948, cupro-nickel 5 francs and silver 50 and 100 francs were introduced, followed by silver 20 francs in 1949 and cupro-nickel 1 franc in 1950. Bronze 20 and 50 centimes followed in 1953 and 1952, respectively. The silver coinage ceased in 1955.
Cupro-nickel 25 centimes coins replaced the 20 centimes in 1964. Nickel 10 francs were introduced in 1969 (only struck until 1979), followed by bronze 20 francs in 1980 and nickel 50 francs in 1987. Aluminium-bronze replaced cupro-nickel in the 5 francs in 1986, whilst nickel-plated iron replaced cupro-nickel in the 1 franc in 1989.
| Circulating Coins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Diameter | Weight | Composition | Obverse | Reverse | First Minted | Obsolete |
| 25 centimes | 16 mm | 2. 00 g | Cu : 75 % Ni : 25 % |
A Miner and lamp | Crown and value | 1964 | 1980 | |
 |
50 centimes | 19 mm | 2. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body 75 g | Cu : 95 % Sn : 3 % Zn : 3 % |
1952 | 2002 | ||
 |
1 franc | 21 mm | 4. 00 g | Cu : 75 % Ni : 25 % |
Woman's head | Crown, branch and value | 1950 | ?? |
 |
1 franc | 18 mm | 2. 75 g | Fe : 94 % Ni : 6 % |
King Baudouin | Crown and value | 1988 | 2002 |
| 1 franc | 18 mm | 2. Baudouin I (Baudouin Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave or Dutch: Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Marie Gustaaf ( 7 September 1930 – 75 g | Fe : 94 % Ni : 6 % |
King Albert II | Value | 1994 | 2002 | |
 |
5 francs | 24 mm | 6. 00 g | Cu : 75 % Ni : 25 % |
Woman's head | Crown, branch and value | 1948 | ?? |
 |
5 francs | 24 mm | 5. 50 g | Cu : 92 % Al : 6 % Ni : 2 % |
King Baudouin | Value | 1986 | 2002 |
| 5 francs | 24 mm | 5. 50 g | Cu : 92 % Al : 6 % Ni : 2 % |
King Albert II | Value | 1994 | 2002 | |
| 10 francs | 27 mm | 8. Life Prince Albert was sent to the Swiss private school Institut Le Rosey for his pre-university education 00 g | Ni : 100 % | King Baudouin | Coat of arms of Belgium | 1969 | 1985 | |
 |
20 francs | 25. The Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Belgium bears a lion called the Belgian Lion or Leo Belgicus. 65 mm | 8. 50 g | Cu : 92 % Ni : 6 % Al : 2 % |
King Baudouin | Leaves and value | 1980 | 2002 |
| 20 francs | 25. 65 mm | 8. 50 g | Cu : 92 % Ni : 6 % Al : 2 % |
King Albert II | Value | 1994 | 2002 | |
| 50 francs | 22. 75 mm | 7. 00 g | Ni : 100 % | King Baudouin | Value | 1987 | 2002 | |
| 50 francs | 22. 75 mm | 7. 00 g | Ni : 100 % | King Albert II | Value | 1994 | 2002 | |
Banknotes
Between 1835 and 1841, notes were issued by the Société de Commerce de Bruxelles, the Banque Legrelle, the Société Génerale pour Favoriser l'Industrie Nationale, the Banque de Belgique, the Banque de Flandre and the Banque Liègeoise et Caisse d'Épargnes in denominations which included 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 francs.
In 1851, the National Bank of Belgium began issuing paper money, in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 francs. The National Bank of Belgium ( Nationale Bank van België in Dutch, Banque nationale de Belgique in French, and Belgische Nationalbank 1, 2 and 5 francs notes were introduced in 1914. The Société Génerale de Belgique issued paper money in the German occupied areas between 1915 and 1918 in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 20, 100 and 1000 francs.
The treasury took over production of 5 and 20 francs notes in 1926. In 1927, notes were introduced by the National Bank with denominations given in both francs and belgas. These were 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 10,000 francs (10, 20, 100, 200 and 2000 belgas).
In 1944, following liberation, new banknotes were introduced (dated 1943 and printed in the U. K. ) in denominations of 5, 10, 100, 500 and 1000 francs (1, 2, 20, 100 and 200 belgas). These were the last notes to bear denominations in belgas. Treasury notes for 50 francs were introduced in 1948, followed by 20 francs in 1950, whilst the National Bank continued to issue 100, 500 and 1000 francs. 5000 francs banknotes were introduced in 1971, with the 20 and 50 francs treasury notes replaced by coins in 1980 and 1987, respectively. 10,000 francs banknotes were introduced in 1992, the same year that production of the 5000 francs note ceased. 2000 francs notes were introduced in 1994.
The notes taken out of circulation in 2002 were
| 100 francs: James Ensor | 200 francs: Adolphe Sax | 500 francs: René Magritte | 1000 francs: Constant Permeke | 2000 francs: Victor Horta | 10,000 francs: Albert II of Belgium and Queen Paola of Belgium |
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Earlier notes included
| 20 francs: King Baudouin | 50 francs: King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola | 100 francs: Hendrik Beyaert | 500 francs: Constantin Meunier | 1000 francs: André Ernest Modeste Grétry | 5000 francs: Guido Gezelle | 10,000 francs: King Baudouin of Belgium and Queen Fabiola of Belgium |
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See also
External links
- Don's World Coin Gallery - Belgium
- Ron Wise's World Paper Money - Belgium Mirror site
- The Global History of Currencies - Belgium
- Global Financial Data data series - Belgium Franc
- Global Financial Data currency histories table (
Microsoft Excel format) - Overview of Belgian franc from the BBC
| Preceded by Dutch gulden |
Belgian currency 1832-1999 |
Succeeded by Euro |
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