Belgian coins of World War II

During World War II in Belgium, The government needed to make money using metal that would not be needed for the war effort. Silver was also discontinued for coinage and the coinage became pure Zinc in order to save raw materials.

Shortly before the Liberation in 1944, the Allies minted 25 million 2 franc coins in 1944 at the Philadelphia Mint which were put in circulation after the territory regained its independence.

One Franc
The 1 Franc coin was circulated through Belgium from 1941.


 * Belgique-Belgie lettering


 * Belgie-Belgique lettering

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.

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 different varieties. The Centime is a sub-unit of the franc. It is 1/100 of a franc.


 * Belgique-Belgie lettering


 * Belgie-Belgique lettering

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


 * Belgie-Belgique lettering

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


 * Belgie-Belgique lettering

Two Francs
The 2 franc coin was minted by the United States in 1944 in preparation for the Allied liberation of Belgium. An Allied Occupation Issue, this coin was made with the blank planchets of the 1943 steel Wheat penny. Some of these coins have a slightly different weight, and thus their blank planchets would have been specifically made for this foreign denomination.