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Auction: 316 - The Collector's Series
Lot: 45

Albania. Zog I (1928-1939). 20 Franga Ari, 1938 R. Roma. On the Marriage of King Zog to Countess Geraldine Apponyi, April 27, 1938. Bare head right, rev. Helmeted and mantled Arms, marriage date below. Fr.14, KM 22. Mintage of only 2,500 pieces. Light contact marks. About Uncirculated. King Zog, a Muslim, married the American-Hungarian, and Roman Catholic, Countess Géraldine Margit Virginia Olga Mária Apponyi de Nagyappony in Tirana in a ceremony witnessed by Count Galeazzo Ciano, Italian envoy and son-in-law of Il Duce. The two motored off to their honeymoon in an open, scarlet Mercedes 540K, a gift from Hitler. The apparent "chumminess" with fascist Italy and Nazi Germany was more an enforced political and economic necessity of Albania, who had grown fully dependent on Italy during the worldwide depression of the 1930´s. Zog, chaffing under the influence, often defied Italy´s demands, while in 1938 he opened Albania´s borders to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. On April 7, 1939, Italy invaded Albania. It was two days after the birth of their son and the royal couple fled in exile. Searching the royal palace and finding linen stained from the birth in the queen´s labor room, Count Ciano was said to have remarked "the cub has escaped."

Sold for
$475