THE UNITED STATES OF BELGIUM

Set Description
HISTORY
In 1789 the French revolted against an aristocratic regime build on oppression. In the southern Netherlands exactly the opposite happened, the enlightened Austrian Emperor wanted to introduce improvements and changes but the people were used to servitude and didn’t see any improvement in the policies.

Driven by aristocrats and clergy the unrest started in 1787 culminating in the revolt of 1789, The Brabant Revolution. A Sovereign Congress was formed and with the act of January 11 1790 the United States of Belgium was declared a confederated nation. After the revolt in LIEGE (Luik) it formed an alliance with the union but never became part of it. Because of internal struggle the Austrians managed to reclaim the Austrian Netherlands by the end of that same year but the idea of a free Belgium was born and thus the revolt had long-lasting repercussions.

Memberstates:
- BRABANT (Brabant)
- GELRE (Gelderland)
- FLANDERS (Vlaanderen)
- WEST-FLANDERS (West Vlaanderen)
- HAINAUT (Henegouwen)
- NAMUR (Namen)
- TOURNAI (Doornik)
- TOURNAISIS (Tournesis, Doornikse)
- MALINES (Mechelen)
- LIMBURG was only temorarily a member of the union
- LUXEMBOURG was never actually a member as it remained under Austrian control but it’s shield was used on the coins nevertheless.

COINS
All the coins were designed by the renowned Theodore Van Berckel, engraver at the Brussels Mint. Coinage was started soon after the signing of the act, starting with copper coins with a reverse that closely resembled the Austrian coins. The obverse showed a lion with a spear and liberty cap, taken from a coin design from the 16th century. The Liard and Double Liard coins exist in two varieties, a small and a large 0 in the date.

The 15th of July coinage begun on the silver coins. During the striking of the 10 Sols and 1 Florin the text was changed, the reverse was “IN VNIONE SALVS” (in union for health/strength/salvation.) but in classic latin “UNIO” also translates to some sort of onion thus making it ridiculous. The text was changed and the 2nd type coins have the text “DOMINI EST REGNVM/ ET IPSE DOMINABITVR GENTIVM” (The Lord is king/ and He Himself rules the nations). The reverse has at its center a bundle of 11 arrows representing the 11 provinces behind two hands shaking. The 10 Sols of the first type exists in two varieties, with a small and a large X. The second type only exists with a large X.

Coins of 3 and 14 Florin were also struck in silver and gold both with the same design. The 3 Florin coin is actually a 3 ½ Brabantian Florin but is never referred to in that way. The obverse shows a lion standing right, sword held high, shield with LIBERTAS (Freedom) and the reverse shows a circle of shields of the 11 memberstates. The text of the 2nd type of the 10 Sols/1Florin coins was reused. The 3 Florin exists in two varieties, a straight and a slanted 9 in the date.

A lot of the coins were melted when the Austrians returned. These coins are by many considered to be the most beautiful struck during that time in West Europe.

Set Goals
A full series comprises of twelve coins:
- Liard (Small 0 in date)
- Liard (Large 0 in date)
- Double Liard (Small 0 in date)
- Double Liard (large 0 in date)
- 10 Sols (type 1) (Small X)
- 10 Sols (type 1) (Large X)
- 10 Sols (type 2)
- 1 Florin (type 1)
- 1 Florin (type 2)
- 3 Florin (Straight 9 in date)
- 3 Florin (Slanted 9 in date) - missing in collection
- 14 Florin