In 1910, British lecturer Norman Angell published The Great Illusion, a book asserting that the economic costs of war would deter European powers from engaging in conflict. While Angell was correct about the economic burden and the irrationality of war, he was mistaken about its likelihood. Just four years later, Europe was engulfed in the very type of war Angell deemed unlikely, driven by complex and multifaceted reasons that historians still debate today.
Ultimately, the war’s cost was beyond anyone’s imagination. Ten million civilians, including those killed in the Armenian genocide, and nearly ten million military personnel lost their lives. Another 20 million were wounded, with many soldiers suffering from chemical warfare-induced blindness. The destruction of countless buildings and the extensive trench networks left scars across the Western front, and the economic toll was immense.
The Great War, later known as World War One in 1939, profoundly influenced the next century of geopolitics and international relations. Monarchies were overthrown, empires disintegrated, new nations emerged, and maps were redrawn. Tragically, the desire for war persisted. Just two decades after the Treaty of Versailles, the world was once again plunged into conflict.
This set includes coins from four of the nations involved in the Great War: a British penny, a German 10 pfennig, a French 10 centimes, and a Serbian 10 dinara. Each coin reflects a different perspective from World War I. This mini album also includes a certificate of authenticity. Bring this critical period in Western history to your collection today!
Highlights:
- Four coins from four nations
- World War I era coins
- Includes certificate of authenticity and story card
