(1904) Belgium Franc
GOLD Obverse Die Trial
1904 Design Overstruck on 1903 Design
Struck on Oversized Piedfort Planchet
(Regular Issue Was Struck in Silver)
NGC MS 61
UNIQUE
SOLD

This is a unique, spectacular and dramatic Belgium Franc die trial struck in GOLD. This Gold Franc is an obverse die trial struck to test the die in 1904, which was the first year of issue. The gold planchet that was selected is larger in diameter and twice the thickness of the silver planchet used for the regular issue. It was first struck using the 1903 obverse die that has French text. Patterns with the obverse design with French text were only struck in 1903. It was struck again with the 1904 obverse die that has Dutch text. The separation between the strikes is clearly visible in the portrait, lettering and denticles. The difference in spelling is particularly evident in the word BELGES (French) on the understrike and BELGEN (Dutch) on the overstrike.

Many renowned numismatists specializing in world gold coins describe the surface as a matte finish. It has the gold color and granular finish typical of gold coins struck in matte proof or matte specimen. This is a discovery piece and the only known Belgium gold die trial of the 1904 design overstruck on the 1903 design.

This is an exciting and unique numismatic rarity appealing to collectors of gold strikings, patterns, die trials and mint errors.