100 Belgian ECU

**The 100 Belgian ECU (European Currency Unit) is a gold investment coin minted by the Royal Belgian Mint. The 100 ECU has a purity of 99,9% and weighs exactly 1 troy ounce (31,10 grams). The ECU was first issued when European Monetary Union came into existence, making it very popular not only with investors but also numismatists.** ### The gold 100 Belgian ECU In the late 1970s, the idea was put forward by the countries of the then European Community to create a single currency. As a result, on March 13, 1979, the ‘European Currency Unit’ - ‘ECU’ - was introduced as a predecessor to the euro. The ECU was a ‘basketted coin’ in which the different currencies of the then European Member States were merged and the economic strength of each state determined the share of its currency within the new single coin.The original composition of the ECU in 1979 consisted of the German mark, the French franc, the British pound, the Italian lira, the Dutch guilder, the Belgian franc, the Danish krone, the Irish pound and the Luxembourg franc. In 1984 the Greek drachma was included in the ECU and in 1989 the Spanish peseta and the Portuguese escudo also joined. Ultimately, on 1 January 1999, the euro replaced the ECU, with 1 euro worth about 1 ECU.Although the ECU has never been a legal tender - unlike the euro with real banknotes and coins - there are many countries, including Belgium, who minted coins (actually medallions) between 1987 and 1999 bearing the name ‘ECU’ as a commemoration of these first steps towards a Monetary Union in Europe. ### Purity & weight **The gold 100 Belgian ECU has a purity of 999/1.000 (24 carats) and weighs exactly 31,10 grams (1 troy ounce).** ### Dessign of gold 100 Belgian ECU On the obverse of the Belgian 100 ECU you will find the portrait of Maria Theresia of Austria; Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. Maria Theresia is considered one of the most influential and powerful royalties in Europe at the time of Absolutism. In addition, thanks to her strategic marriage policy, she is sometimes referred to as the ‘grandmother of Europe’. Surrounding her portrait is in Latin ‘MAR TH.D: G.R. JMP.G.HUN.BOH.R’ which means ‘Maria Theresia, by grace of God, empress of the Holy Roman Empire, queen of Germania Hungary and Bohemia’.On the reverse, the nominal value - 100 ECU - of the coin is displayed along with the year of issue. The 12 stars around it symbolize the 12 founding countries of the European Monetary Union. Finally, you will find the country of origin of the currency in the three national languages - Dutch, French and German; Belgium, Belgique and Belgien respectively. ### Buying a gold 100 Belgian ECU The 100 Belgian ECU and other gold coins are perfectly suitable as a purchase of physical gold. **Gold coins are not taxed because they are considered monetary gold.** And while all the gold coins offered by Argentor have been tested for authenticity, they are not delivered with a certificate of authenticity. That, unlike gold bars. ### Selling a gold Belgian 100 ECU You are more than welcome in our office to sell your gold 100 ECU coin(s). **You needn't make an appointment to do so.**Our buying prices are adapted every minute to the gold actual rate and will be hedged once you present your coin(s) in our office. **You can always check our live buying prices on [this page](https://www.argentorshop.be/en/sell-gold-coins).**