The Michaux Collection

Set Description
In 1895 Alphonse Michaux had become the chief engraver for the Brussels Mint and in 1901 the first coins of the type that bears his name were coined. The same copper-nickel type was used for coins of three denominations, five, ten and twenty-five cents with a branch of a bay tree engraved at the reverse. These coins were the first in Europe to be fitted with a whole in the center of the coin. Other European countries soon followed the Belgian model. In 1861 Belgium had already been the first country to produce coins in the hugely popular copper-nickel alloy, 75% copper and 25% nickel. Although the United States had coined a one cent in 1856 that was made of a similar experimental alloy (88% copper and 12% nickel) the Belgian soon became the most popular alloy for coins in the next decennia. In 1910 the front was adjusted to the new Belgian King, Albert I. With the exception of the First World war these coins were produced until 1929. Afterward the alloy was adjusted to nickel silver, the French Maillechort, 75% copper, 15% nickel and 10% zinc. A star was placed in the design for coins with the new alloy. In 1938 the type was replaced by a type of similar coins designed by Jespers. The coins with denominations of five and ten cents remained in use until 1955, those worth twenty-five cents until 1967.

Set Goals
The collection comprises of the Belgian coins struck from 1901 till 1932, including patterns, essais and such.