10 Mark German Empire (1871-1918) Gold Wilhelm II, German Emperor ...

Germany/Kingdom of Wurttemberg, Wilhelm II. Gold 10 Mark Coin.

Mint date: 1903 

Reference: KM-633. 

Denomination: Gold 10 Mark 

Mint Place: Freudenstadt Mint (F) 

Material: Gold (.900) 

Diameter: 19mm 

Weight: 3.97gm

Obverse: Bearded head of William II. of Wurttemberg right. Legend: WILHELM II KOENIG VON WUERTTEMBERG  ("William, King of Wurttemberg") Exergue: Mint mark (F – Freudenstadt)

Reverse: Crown of the German Empire above heraldic eagle with shield at chest looking left. Legend: DEUTSCHES  REICH 1903 * 10 MARK *  ("German Empire 1903, 10 Mark")

William II (German Wilhelm II) (25 February 1848 in Stuttgart – 2 October 1921 in Bebenhausen) was the fourth King of Württemberg, from 6 October 1891 until the abolition of the kingdom on 30 November 1918. He was the son of Prince Frederick of Württemberg (1808–1870) and his wife Princess Catherine of Württemberg (1821–1898), daughter of King William I of Württemberg (1781–1864). Upon the death of his childless uncle, King Charles I (1823–1891), he succeeded as King of Württemberg. 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 Württembergischer Yacht Club (formerly “Königlich Württembergischer Yacht-Club” or Royal Yacht Club of Württemberg) 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 König (“Mister King”). Under his reign, the family Weizsäcker rose to prominence. With William II’s death in 1921 without male issue, the senior branch of the House of Württemberg 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 Württemberg.