Belgium Congo Medal 1932 Honouring General Albert Thys - by Bonnetain EF-

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Belgian Congo – Commemorative Medal Honouring General Albert Thys, 1932, by Bonnetain

Obverse:
Left-facing portrait bust of General Albert Thys with short hair and moustache, in high relief within a smooth field. Along the border: "GENERAL ALTHYS – 1849–1915".

Reverse:
At top, stylised winged wheel with central star. Below, in nine lines of inscription:
"LA LIGNE DE PÉNÉTRATION INAUGURÉE EN 1898 A ÉTÉ REMPLACÉE EN 1932 PAR LE CHEMIN DE FER QUE LE GÉNÉRAL ALBERT THYS AVAIT CONÇU DÈS 1887"
(“The penetration line inaugurated in 1898 was replaced in 1932 by the railway line that General Albert Thys had planned as early as 1887.”)
Around the edge: "SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME DU CHEMIN DE FER DU CONGO".

Historical context:
This commemorative medal was issued in 1932 by the Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Congo to mark the replacement of the original inland transport line (ligne de pénétration) with a modern railway system first envisioned by Albert Thys (1849–1915). A close associate of King Leopold II, Thys played a pivotal role in the colonial infrastructure of the Congo Free State, including the planning and construction of the Matadi–Léopoldville railway. The winged wheel and star motif symbolize progress and engineering achievement. The medal was designed by Bonnetain, a French medallist known for colonial and institutional commissions.

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