50 centimes - Albert I in French

The coin's story

This 50 centimes coin in 835 thousandths silver belongs to the first series of the reign of Albert I, struck from 1910 to 1914. Albert I took the oath on 23 December 1909 and succeeded his uncle Leopold II, who died without a son, during the First World War, he commanded the Belgian army and held the Yser line, which earned him the nickname of the “Knight King”. The young king appears bareheaded, in a portrait by Godefroid Devreese (1861-1941), a sculptor and medallist who made more than 400 medals for the Royal Mint. This version bears the legend ALBERT ROI DES BELGES and the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Unity makes strength), the coin also exists in a Dutch version. The 1912 date was struck in 1,000,000 pieces, and the coin was demonetised on 30 July 1932.