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 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.

The types minted were:

Denomination Description Legend Metal Photograph Liard Reverse: Rampant lion holding stylised liberty poleObverse: Text AD USUM FŒDERATI BELGII"For Use in the Belgian Federation" Copper alloy Double Liard Reverse: Rampant lion holding stylised liberty poleObverse: Laureate wreath surrounding text AD USUM FŒDERATI BELGII Copper alloy Ten Sols (first type) Reverse: Two disembodied hands shaking above 11 crossed arrowsObverse: Rampant lion MON. NOV. ARG. PROV. FOED. BELG. / IN VNIONE SALVS"New Silver Money of the Federated Provinces of Belgium" / "Salvation in Union" SilverTen Sols (second type)Reverse: Two disembodied hands shaking above 11 crossed arrowsObverse: Rampant lionDOMINI EST REGNVM / ET IPSE DOMINABITVR GENTIVM"The Kingdom is the Lord's; and he shall have dominion over the nations" (Psalm 22:28)SilverFlorin (first type) Reverse: Two disembodied hands shaking above 11 crossed arrowsObverse: Rampant lion MON. NOV. ARG. PROV. FOED. BELG. / IN VNIONE SALVS SilverFlorin (second type)Reverse: Two disembodied hands shaking above 11 crossed arrowsObverse: Rampant lionDOMINI EST REGNVM / ET IPSE DOMINABITVR GENTIVMSilverThree Florins Reverse: Lion regardant, brandishing sword and a shield labelled LibertasObverse: 11 coats of arms around a central sun DOMINI EST REGNVM / ET IPSE DOMINABITVR GENTIVM Silver 14 Florins Reverse: Lion regardant, brandishing sword and a shield labelled LibertasObverse: 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. References

Further reading

External links

Révolution Brabançonne at iBelgica De Verenigde Belgische Staten at Numismatica-herentals The first "Belgian" coins: Lions d'or and lions d'argent of the United Belgian States at the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) Museum

fr:États belgiques unis#Les pièces de monnaies des États belgiques unis