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Belgium Brussels Exposition 50 Francs 1935 Robot Coins

Started by WillieBoyd2, August 29, 2022, 05:23:40 AM

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WillieBoyd2

I began collecting modern foreign coins in the mid 1960's and I bought a 1966 world coins catalog titled A Catalog of Modern World Coins By R. S. Yeoman.

One of the illustrations was for a Belgian silver 50 franc coin commemorating the "Brussels Exposition 1935". There was no other description for the coin and the value for one in very-fine (VF) condition was $12.00.

The coin had an interesting design. The obverse had a figure which looked like a robot and the reverse had a building which looked like something from a science-fiction movie.

I wanted one of these coins but at the time (1966) I did not have much money.

As an adult I learned that the "robot" was the angel St. Michael slaying a dragon and the building was the Palace of Expositions which is still standing.

I must have walked by the Palace of Expositions during my visit to Brussels in 1971 because I remember visiting the futuristic "Atomium" from the 1958 World's Fair which was built nearby.


Belgium Brussels World's Fair "Atomium" in 1971

Belgium issued this coin in a French language version and a Dutch language version.

Besides commemorating the Brussels Exposition it also commemorated the centennial of the Belgian railroad system.

The French version of the coin:


Belgium 50 Francs 1935 - French
Silver, 35.0 mm, 22.03 gm

Obverse:
Saint Michael standing on slain dragon
ROYAUME DE BELGIQUE EXPOSITION DE BRUXELLES 50 FR
Reverse:
Palace of Expositions building
CENTENAIRE DES CHEMINS DE FER BELGES 1835-1935

The Dutch version of the coin:


Belgium 50 Francs 1935 - Dutch
Silver, 35.0 mm, 21.96 gm

Obverse:
Saint Michael standing on slain dragon
KONINKRIJK BELGIE BRUSSELSCHE TENTOONSTELLING 50 FR
Reverse:
Palace of Expositions building
EEUWGETIJDE DER BELGISCHE SPOORWEGEN 1835-1935

The 1958 World's Fair also had commemorative coins issued.

The French version of the coin:


Belgium 50 Francs 1958 - French
Silver, 30.0 mm, 12.55 gm

Obverse:
Head of King Baudouin facing left
BAUDOUIN ROI DES BELGES
Reverse:
Brussels Grand Place and Town Hall with emblem of World's Fair at left
1958 50 F

The Dutch version of the coin:


Belgium 50 Francs 1958 - Dutch
Silver, 30.0 mm, 12.40 gm

Obverse:
Head of King Baudouin facing left
BOUDEWIJN KONING DER BELGEN
Reverse:
Brussels Grand Place and Town Hall with emblem of World's Fair at left
1958 50 F

:)

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Figleaf

I can see how you can view St.Michael (from the arms of Brussels) as a robot on this coin, but that's not how it's meant. It is in fact just a guy in a medieval harness trying to make kebab of cloud with his sword. The main oddity is the helmet with the oversize cross, but perhaps the cross is a dragon repellent. His ears are pretty weird also, though.

I think that you were thrown off by the style, which was fashionable in the twenties and thirties: art deco. Compare the image below in the same style. It had a similar effect on the Britishers, being known as the rocking horse crown.

Peter

Rocking horse.jpg
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Aernout

The weather vane depicts the patron saint of Brussels, the archangel Michael, also called Saint Michael.

In August 1695, several fires raged in Brussels because the French King Louis XIV had the city bombed during the Nine Years' War. The Grote Markt was also almost completely destroyed, but the walls of the town hall remained largely intact. According to legend, the town hall was protected by Saint Michael, which is why he still stands on the town hall today

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadhuis_van_Brussel#/media/Bestand:Belgique_-_Bruxelles_-_H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_-_01.jpg


https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windwijzer_van_het_stadhuis_van_Brussel#/media/Bestand:Saint_Michel_girouette_HV.jpg


gr,
Aernout
Start small to end magnificent - Start klein om groots te eindigen.

Figleaf

Thank you, Aernout. I never realised it was the statue on Brussels' city hall building on Grote Markt. In fact, I didn't even realise the statue was a weather vane. You don't get to come close. A highly unusual style for 1455. I now wonder if H.G. Wells let Jules Verne use the time machine. ;)

The story of the French army bombarding citizens of a defenceless city is deeply sad. It is unfortunately of all times. When will they learn at last?

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.