Belgium Albert I 1 Centime

History

1 Centime 1912-1914, KM# 76, Belgium, Albert I

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

Description

Albert I (1875–1934) reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 to 1934. This was an eventful period in the History of Belgium, which included the period of World War I (1914–1918), when 90 percent of Belgium was overrun, occupied, and ruled by the German Empire. Other crucial issues included the adoption of the Treaty of Versailles, the ruling of the Belgian Congo as an overseas possession of the Kingdom of Belgium along with the League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi, the reconstruction of Belgium following the war, and the first five years of the Great Depression (1929–1934). King Albert died in a mountaineering accident in eastern Belgium in 1934, at the age of 58, and he was succeeded by his son Leopold.

Obverse	Crown, jewelry Belgium Monogram, signature Albert I of Belgium The royal monogram crowned by the heraldic crown of Belgium and surrounded by the inscription 'Albert King of the Belgians' in French. Some monarchies never had a physical crown, just a heraldic representation, as in the constitutional kingdom of Belgium. ALBERT ROI DES BELGES • 1914 •
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Lion Book Constitution Symbol, amulet, talisman Leo Belgicus Leo Belgicus with a paw over the Constitution of Belgium. Around is the Belgian motto 'Unity makes strength' in French. Name of the engraver below. The Leo Belgicus (Latin for Belgic Lion) was used in both heraldry and map design to symbolize the former Low Countries (current day Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and a small part of northern France) with the shape of a lion. The names derived from the Belgae are now mostly identified with the country Belgium. The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831. Since then Belgium has been a parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of ministerial responsibility for the government policy and the Trias Politica. The Constitution established Belgium as a centralised unitary state. BRAEMT F. = Made (Fecit) by Braemt Engraver: Joseph-Pierre Braemt L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE CONSTITUTION BELGE 1831 ⋆ 1 CENT.E BRAEMT F.
Edge	Reeded (milled)