Bill's Belgian Medals

Order of Leopold 2 - Page 1

    As with the Order of Leopold 1, there are various ribbon embellishments including gold stripes, both at centre and at
    the edge of a ribbon - see examples above. The medal with the crossed swords has also got a bar 40-45. The two
    medals at the right are similar but from different manufacturers.

    The medals above are various pre and post 1951 medals with central gold stripe, a Korean War bar on crossed swords
    and another 40-45 bar over crossed swords.

    In 1900, King Leopold 2, as king of the independent state of Congo, created the Order of Leopold 2, which was
    incorporated into the Belgian awards system in 1908. It was awarded for services to the King, but in practice is another
    long service order and is awarded as such instead of the much rarer Leopold I Order and alternatively with the Order of
    the Crown. The usual emblems and ribbon variations  are applicable to this Order as with the Order of Leopold 1 apply
    to this Order also.

    The Order has the following classes : Grand Cordon, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight, together with
    three medals - gold, silver and bronze.

    My collection is presented below and will be updated as it continues to grow.

    I have a number of Commander neck badges for the Order of Leopold 2 but they are all with groups such as those
    shown above.

    My collection of Officer medals for the Order of Leopold 2 also includes some medals which are part of groups such as
    those shown above, both of which have crossed swords, and in one case a palm.

    The three photographs at the left feature two dual language Officer medals, one with crossed swords on the ribbon -
    note the different centres indicative of two manufacturers) and the rare version of the Officer medal produced
    erroneously with crossed swords between the crown and medal in anticipation of a military division as with the Order of
    Leopold. There is also a knight version of this design to the right.

    The medal at the left is a copy of the initial design of the Order of Leopold 2, which then changed to the French
    language version shown next to it - this medal with crossed swords, gilt star and was issued posthumously (with a
    black bar - known as a mother's bar) However, I understand that technically there should be no other devices on the
    ribbon; there is also a veterans' insignia. Nest to it is another Knight medal from a different manufacturer and it was
    also issued posthumously (with a black bar) and an Albert silver palm. This was followed by the 2 language model after
    1951 - see above right.
Last Updated 17 November 2007