Belga (currency unit)

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The Belga was from 1926 until January 8, 1946 a currency unit of the Kingdom of Belgium and met five Belgian Francs / Frank . After Belgium had left the Latin Monetary Union , which had linked it with France, Switzerland, Italy and Greece, as a result of constant devaluation of its currency at the end of 1925 , the Belgian Minister of State Emile Francqui launched a program to stabilize the Belgian franc. One of the measures taken in the decree of October 25, 1926 was the creation of the Belga, worth 5 Belgian francs / francs. This new currency unit was intended to replace the Belgian franc on the international currency market; With the Belga, Belgium also distanced itself from the French Franc , with which parity still existed within the framework of the Latin Monetary Union. The gold content of the Belga corresponded to that of the old five-franc piece at 0.209211 g fine gold. The exchange rate to the Reichsmark in 1930 was 0.58 RM. From 1927 until the end of the Second World War, banknotes and treasury notes had a double value in “Franc” / “Frank” and “Belga”.

It was not until 1930 and 1934 that three coins with a double value in “Franc” and “Belga” were minted, with the numerical Francs / Frank indication being in the eye of the beholder and the Belga inscription appearing subordinate. In 1930 pieces in nickel for 5 Francs / 1 Belga and 10 Francs / 2 Belga were published, the latter on the occasion of the centenary of Belgium's independence , and in 1931 in large format for 20 Francs / 4 Belga, which were not very well received and in 1933 for silver pieces for 20 Francs, now without the indication “Belga”.

The Belgian population, like the markets, never really accepted the new currency, but continued to calculate only in "francs". The Belga was therefore repealed by the legislative decree of January 8, 1946.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Because Belgium was bilingual at the time, banknotes and coins with Flemish and French inscription were put into circulation.
  2. ↑ Le franc belge . in: Encyclopédie des monnaies de circulation belges. Monnaie royale de Belgique, Bruxelles 1999, p. 59 (French)
  3. ↑ Belga . in: The Great Brockhaus. 15th edition 1928-1935 (Vol. 2, p. 488). FA Brockhaus, Leipzig 1929
  4. ^ Belgium and Luxembourg. Handbook for travelers by Karl Baedeker . 26th edition. Karl Baedeker, Leipzig 1930, p. XII
  5. ↑ a b Compare the website of the Museum of the National Bank of Belgium .