'1834' Belgium 40 Franc
Unique Obverse Hub Trial Strike
King Leopold I
White Metal Restrike
Pedigreed to the Brussels Mint in Belgium
PCGS MS 62

This is a unique obverse incuse trial strike. It is an impression from the hub, not the die. The hub design is raised, creating an incuse impression on this trial strike. It was struck in white metal, weighs 23.53 grams and has a diameter of 40 mm. It is unlisted in Dupriez, Bogaert and Krause.

Described as a restrike, it was struck at the Royal Mint of Belgium, certified and authenticated by PCGS, and pedigreed to the Brussels Mint. The Royal Mint of Belgium is a department of the Federal Public Service Finance.

The Royal Mint of Belgium closed on January 1st, 2018. The Belgian FPS Finance auctioned this trial strike along with other coins, medals, patterns, and errors from the Royal Mint of Belgium.

There is no date since it is an obverse hub trial and the date is on the design of the reverse. The obverse of the 1834 Belgium 40 Franc depicts the head of King Leopold surrounded by French text. The reverse depicts a wreath of oak leaves with the denomination and date.

This extremely rare gold coin was only struck from 1834 to 1841 in very limited quantities. Krause catalogs this rarity in XF at $12,000 and UNC at $22,000. NGC lists it in XF at $14,000 and MS 60 at $22,000.

The 1834 Belgium 40 Franc in gold is a world rarity and one of the most famous Belgian coins. Only one has been auctioned by Heritage or Stack's Bowers. It was raw and uncirculated, and was sold by Heritage for $15,525 in 2004 (New York Signature Sale #340, Lot #14100).

Sold by Heritage Auction on January 12, 2004 for: $15,525.00 Leopold I gold 40 francs 1834, Position A, Bust right/Date and value in wreath, Dup-62, Fr-2, KMB23.1, prooflike Uncirculated with light hairlines. Extremely Rare! Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions

Hub Trials are featured in my NLG Award winning book,
World's Greatest Mint Errors.