^Lot 2747 BELGIUM: gilt AE medal, AU

BELGIUM: gilt AE medal, Order of Leopold II, Gold Medal type, with original ribbon, AU, ex Joseph E. Lang Collection. The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on August 24, 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgium, incorporated into the Belgian awards system. The order is awarded for meritorious service to the sovereign of Belgium, and as a token of his personal goodwill. It can be awarded to both Belgians and foreigners, and is seen as a diplomatic gift of merit. The obverse features a central disc with a Belgian lion in relief, surrounded by a ring with the motto "Unity Is Strength" in French (L'union fait la force) and Dutch (Eendracht maakt macht). The reverse features the crowned monogram of King Leopold II ("LR").