It's Wednesday. I'm continuing my series on the gold twenty-franc coins of the Latin Monetary Union. If you're interested, take a look at my previous articles.
Today, I am once again presenting a Belgian coin. But last time, it featured a mass murderer. Today, the portrait shows a likeable person, a war hero, sportsman.
This king lived from 1878 to 1934. He ruled from 1909. He ascended the throne after his uncle, who had no legitimate children.
King Albert was a modest, civilian man who did not take his royal majesty too seriously. If World War I had not broken out, I would have nothing to write about.
But unfortunately, war broke out. German Emperor Wilhelm II urged Albert to allow his troops to pass through Belgium into France. But Albert refused, saying, "Belgium is a country, not a highway."
Kings were always supreme commanders of armies. But in the Middle Ages, they were most often with them on the battlefield. Certainly, Napoleon and Frederick the Great commanded their armies personally in the 18th and 19th centuries, respectively. But in the 20th century, royal personal command was very rare.
In fact, I don't know of any king who personally commanded his troops. Except for Albert I.
The Belgian army contributed to the victory of the Entente powers – Britain, France, Russia, and later the US and others. The Belgians held back the German offensive in 1914, buying time for their allies. They managed to hold on to at least a small area near the French border for the entire four years of the war.
Due to propaganda, this territory became the target of many German offensives, but the Belgians held their ground. Throughout the war, they were commanded by their king, who also never left this small territory.
At the end of the war, the Belgian army managed to liberate their country from the Germans, and King Albert was welcomed in the capital as a war hero and liberator.
Albert's life returned to normal. He started playing sports again. He particularly enjoyed horse riding and mountain climbing. The latter hobby was quite unusual for royalty at that time.
Mountaineering proved fatal for the king. He climbed the highest and most difficult mountains in the Alps. One day in February, he set out for a practice climbing wall near Namur, some 150 to 200 meters high.
And he was found dead under the Roche du Vieux Bon Dieu rock formation. He was 59 years old, just like me. It happened on February 17. Yesterday was the anniversary. That's why I chose a coin with his portrait on it today.
I assume that this coin is a reissue. But I'm not sure. The source from which I obtained the coin did not usually sell new coins. I don't know.
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](https://images.hive.blog/768x0/https://images.ecency.com/DQmVZoEwoFWG1sJNWuF2mVT26L2rAB6RQtm2etFWzUsjoXE/20260208_081552.jpg)
For comparison: the inscriptions on Leopold II's coin are in French. On Albert I's coin, they are in Flemish.
The Flemish have always made up the majority, around 60%. The French-speaking Walloons used to make up 40%, but their share is declining. On the other hand, the number of other foreigners in Belgium is increasing. This is the case in most countries today. The planet is interconnected.
L´Union Fait la Force = Strength in unity
All photos and coins are my property. I used Deepl.com to translate into English.
What a great coin! It's sad how the great leaders die young, and the evil, corrupt leaders seem to live far longer than they should.
Thanks for sharing this!
!BBH
!PIZZA
!ALIVE
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Perhaps King Albert became a changed man from facing death in the face during the war. Thus taking up dangerous activities to continue to feel more 'Alive' thrill?
!PIZZA