A silver 3 Florin coin of the United Belgian States, minted in 1790.

The coinage of the United Belgian States was only produced during the state's one-year existence in 1790, following the Brabant Revolution, but provided a strong numismatic influence for the coinage of Belgium after its independence in 1830.

Background

In 1789, Brabant Revolution took place in reaction to liberal reforms made by Joseph II and the Austrian rule in Belgium. After Austrian forces were defeated by the rebels at the Battle of Turnhout in 1789, Austrian forces withdrew from the country leaving the rebels in power. On 11 January 1790, with the signing of the Treaty of Union, the counties and dukedoms which had made up the Austrian Netherlands became one country: the United Belgian States.

Coinage

The coinage was issued in eight denominations[1] divided into Liards, Sols, and Florins. It was only produced during the short one-year lifespan of the country meaning that all examples are dated 1790. Legends are rendered in Latin. The ten Sols & Florin coins were given a new legend after it turned out that VNIONE also meant "onion" in the locally spoken languages.[2]

The types minted were:

Denomination Description Legend Metal Photograph
Liard Reverse: Rampant lion holding stylised liberty pole
Obverse: Text		 AD USUM FŒDERATI BELGII
"For Use in the Belgian Federation"		 Copper alloy
Double Liard Reverse: Rampant lion holding stylised liberty pole
Obverse: Laureate wreath surrounding text		 AD USUM FŒDERATI BELGII Copper alloy
Ten Sols

(first type)

 Reverse: Two disembodied hands shaking above 11 crossed arrows
Obverse: Rampant lion		 MON. NOV. ARG. PROV. FOED. BELG. / IN VNIONE SALVS
"New Silver Money of the Federated Provinces of Belgium" / "Salvation in Union"		 Silver
Ten Sols

(second type)

 Reverse: Two disembodied hands shaking above 11 crossed arrows
Obverse: Rampant lion		 DOMINI EST REGNVM / ET IPSE DOMINABITVR GENTIVM
"The Kingdom is the Lord's; and he shall have dominion over the nations" (Psalm 22:28)		 Silver
Florin

(first type)

 Reverse: Two disembodied hands shaking above 11 crossed arrows
Obverse: Rampant lion		 MON. NOV. ARG. PROV. FOED. BELG. / IN VNIONE SALVS Silver
Florin

(second type)

 Reverse: Two disembodied hands shaking above 11 crossed arrows
Obverse: Rampant lion		 DOMINI EST REGNVM / ET IPSE DOMINABITVR GENTIVM Silver
Three Florins Reverse: Lion regardant, brandishing sword and a shield labelled Libertas
Obverse: 11 coats of arms around a central sun		 DOMINI EST REGNVM / ET IPSE DOMINABITVR GENTIVM Silver
14 Florins[3][4] Reverse: Lion regardant, brandishing sword and a shield labelled Libertas
Obverse: 11 coats of arms around a central sun		 DOMINI EST REGNVM / ET IPSE DOMINABITVR GENTIVM Gold

Iconography

The iconography on the coinage stressed the unity of the state. On the 3 Florin, this was represented by the individual display of all the coats-of-arms of the 11 states which had merged; on the 10 sols, it was represented by 11 arrows behind a two shaking hands.[5]


References

  1. ↑ "Republic of Belgium, Lion d'or 1790". Money Museum. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Verenigde Belgische Staten - Wiki Munten en papiergeld". wiki.muntenenpapiergeld.nl. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  3. ↑ "Belgium 1790 lion d'or". Coin Wiki. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "Belgium. Lion d' Or of 14 Florins, 1790 (Brussels)". icollector.com. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Belgium: 10 Sols 1790". CACHE' Historical and World Coins. Retrieved 19 February 2013.

Further reading

Media related to Coins of the United Belgian States at Wikimedia Commons

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