50 Centimes - Léopold II French text 1881

Hello, can you please help me to valuate this coin?

Thanks!

1881!

50 Centimes - Léopold II (French text) - Belgium – Numista

Welcome to Numista. Please provide weight in grams and diameter in MM to help verify authenticity if possible. I don't have reason to doubt it's authenticity but that information is always helpful. If authentic, it could be quite valuable as you know as it is a low mintage date and there is not even a auction or sales history on Numista for the 1881 date. I do not believe yours to be an overdate variety. Context is important here. The information provided below are NGC value estimations for slabbed and graded examples which this example is clearly not. My opinion of grade is mine alone and others may not agree with my assessment. Lets compare to the more abundant 1899 date.

I see your example as Very Fine. Note the wear, lack of sharpness and detail on the denticles, some of the beard, lion, crown, and details in the shield for instance. What it is actually worth is in the eye of the beholder. Good luck with it.

https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/belgium-50-centimes-km-26-1866-1899-cuid-1041843-duid-1284299N#284

Hi Harry,

Thank you for your reply.

My kitchen scale shows 3g, but it's not very sensitive and cannot measure decimals, so the weight would be between 2.5 and 3.5g.

As for the thickness, I don't have the proper tool to measure it, but I compared the coin to a ½ Swiss franc from 2019 (1.25 mm, I believe), and they are quite similar. 

However, my coin is slightly less thin, as you can see in the photo.

On the left is the Swiss coin, and on the right is the Belgian one.

I also checked whether it’s magnetic with a magnet, and I can confirm it doesn’t stick.

I could try cleaning the coin with a product you recommend to make it shiny again without damaging it.
 

Please, absolutely do not attempt a cleaning. I know it is tempting but you will destroy much of it's value. “Shiny” is not good in this case and a cleaning will damage it.   It is perfectly beautiful just as it is with the natural patina expected of a coin of it's age.  There is no safe way to clean it.  DO NOT CLEAN IT. Put it in a flip or capsule to protect it just as it  is. 

Edit:

https://www.coinstudy.com/safe-coin-storage.html

Ok, no problem.

I won't touch it.

Do we know its value so far?

Thanks.

Perhaps $200 U.S.? 

https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/belgium-50-centimes-km-26-1866-1899-cuid-1041843-duid-1284299

Many thanks Harry!