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CC 122 2012
Coin set
Proof
Coin set proof
Luxembourg · 100th anniversary of the death of Wilhelm IV
Mintage2,000
Issue date31 Jan 2012
PackagingCoin set
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Price of the set (2 coins)€99.00
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin in the “Grand-Ducal Dynasty” series is dedicated to Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duke Guillaume IV; the indication “† 1912” refers to the year of Guillaume IV’s death. Both are depicted in half-profile facing right, Henri in front of Guillaume IV, while the city of Luxembourg forms the background. Above the portraits are “GRANDS-DUCS DE LUXEMBOURG” and the year “2012”, alongside the names “HENRI” and “GUILLAUME IV”.
The design
On the left half of the inner part of the coin, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri and, offset behind him, Grand Duke Wilhelm IV are depicted, both in half-profile facing right. The text “GRANDS-DUCS DE LUXEMBOURG” (Grand Dukes of Luxembourg) and the year “2012”, framed by the mintmark and the mint master’s initials, are inscribed above the portraits in the inner part of the coin. Luxembourg City forms the background. The names “HENRI” and “GUILLAUME IV” and his year of death “† 1912” appear beside the respective portraits.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.
Background on the topic
Guillaume IV, known in German as Wilhelm IV, was born in 1852 as the son of the future Grand Duke Adolph. After the Luxembourg ruling house passed in 1890 from the Dutch line of the House of Orange-Nassau (Haus Oranien-Nassau) to the Nassau-Weilburg line, Guillaume succeeded his father to the throne in 1905. His reign lasted until his death and coincided with a period in which Luxembourg underwent economic and social change through the expansion of the iron and steel industry.
Guillaume IV was married to Maria Anna of Portugal from the House of Braganza. The couple had six daughters but no son. This presented the dynasty with a succession issue, as the applicable house rules fundamentally provided for male succession. A regulation adopted in 1907 recognized the eldest daughter, Marie-Adélaïde, as heir to the throne. This prepared, for the first time, for a woman to succeed to the Luxembourgish throne within the dynasty itself. Because of Guillaume’s serious illness, his wife assumed the regency from 1908. After his death, Marie-Adélaïde succeeded him.
The further connection to Henri runs through Guillaume’s second daughter, Charlotte. She became Grand Duchess in 1919 after Marie-Adélaïde had abdicated. Charlotte’s son Jean reigned from 1964 to 2000; he was succeeded by his son Henri. Guillaume IV is therefore Henri’s great-grandfather. The joint depiction thus refers not only to two officeholders but also to the genealogical continuity of the Luxembourgish grand ducal house through female succession.
The specific occasion for the issue was the centenary of Guillaume IV’s death. The coin places this anniversary within a series in which Luxembourg addresses members of its grand ducal dynasty and their relationships with the respective reigning head of state. At the same time, the occasion commemorates the reorganization of the succession to the throne at that time, which enabled the dynasty to continue.
Guillaume IV was married to Maria Anna of Portugal from the House of Braganza. The couple had six daughters but no son. This presented the dynasty with a succession issue, as the applicable house rules fundamentally provided for male succession. A regulation adopted in 1907 recognized the eldest daughter, Marie-Adélaïde, as heir to the throne. This prepared, for the first time, for a woman to succeed to the Luxembourgish throne within the dynasty itself. Because of Guillaume’s serious illness, his wife assumed the regency from 1908. After his death, Marie-Adélaïde succeeded him.
The further connection to Henri runs through Guillaume’s second daughter, Charlotte. She became Grand Duchess in 1919 after Marie-Adélaïde had abdicated. Charlotte’s son Jean reigned from 1964 to 2000; he was succeeded by his son Henri. Guillaume IV is therefore Henri’s great-grandfather. The joint depiction thus refers not only to two officeholders but also to the genealogical continuity of the Luxembourgish grand ducal house through female succession.
The specific occasion for the issue was the centenary of Guillaume IV’s death. The coin places this anniversary within a series in which Luxembourg addresses members of its grand ducal dynasty and their relationships with the respective reigning head of state. At the same time, the occasion commemorates the reorganization of the succession to the throne at that time, which enabled the dynasty to continue.
Interesting Facts
This coin set contains all eight circulating coins from 1 cent to 2 euros, the 2-euro commemorative coin “10 years of euro cash” (CC113) and the 2-euro commemorative coin “100th anniversary of the death of Wilhelm IV” (CC114), face value: €7.88.