Kingdom of Wurttemberg, William II. Silver 2 Mark Coin.
Mint date: 1912 Reference: KM-631. Denomination: 2 Mark Mint Place: Freudenstadt mint (F)Weight: 11.04gm Diameter: 28mm Material: Silver
Obverse: Bearded head of William II of Wurttemberg right. Legend: WILHELM II KOENIG VON WUERTTEMBERG Exergue: Mint mark (F – Fredenstadt)
Reverse: Crown of the German Empire above heraldic eagle with shield at chest looking left. Legend: DEUTSCHES REICH 1912 * ZWEI MARK *
William II (German Wilhelm II) (25 February 1848 in Stuttgart – 2 October 1921 in Bebenhausen) was the fourth King of Wurttemberg, from 6 October 1891 until the abolition of the kingdom on 30 November 1918. He was the son of Prince Frederick of Wurttemberg (1808-1870) and his wife Princess Catherine of Wurttemberg (1821-1898), daughter of King William I of Wurttemberg (1781-1864). Upon the death of his childless uncle, King Charles I (1823-1891), he succeeded as King of Wurttemberg. Despite living in a landlocked kingdom, William II was a ship enthusiast. He had a vision of a German Fleet reaching deep into the country through its rivers. The king was instrumental in the establishment of the Wurttembergischer Yacht Club (formerly “Koeniglich Wurttembergischer Yacht-Club” or Royal Yacht Club of Wurttemberg) in 1911 on Lake Constance. King William became a Generalfeldmarschall during World War I. In 1918, he was deposed from the throne along with the other German rulers. Considered to be a popular monarch, he was bitter to find he received less support than he had anticipated. He had the habit of walking his two dogs in public parks in Stuttgart without bodyguards or the like, being greeted by his subjects with a simple Herr Koenig (“Mister King”). Under his reign, the family Weizsaecker rose to prominence. With William II’s death in 1921 without male issue, the senior branch of the House of Wurttemberg became extinct. The ducal branch became the new dynastic-branch of the House; thus, the Kingship was extinguished and the headship of the house devolved to a dukedom, specifically onto Albrecht, Duke of Wurttemberg.