Germany 100 Euro Gold Coins 2012 Aachener Dom | Aachen Cathedral
UNESCO World Heritage series
As part of the German UNESCO World Heritage commemorative series launched in 2002 the Federal Ministry of Finance has now issued the ninth 100 Euro commemorative gold coin. The 100-Euro Aachener Dom gold coin honors the Aachen Cathedral, the first German building added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. (Since 2002 there have been a total of 11 different 100-Euro commemorative coins issued, but the "European Monetary Union" coin from 2002 and the "FIFA World Cup" coin of 2005 are not counted as part of it.)
All gold coins in the series weigh 1/2 ounce (15.55 grams) of gold, are issued in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition and a nominal value of 100 Euro. The 100-Euro gold coin with a diameter of 28 mm, are made of 999.9 pure gold and are recognized in Germany as legal tender.
The obverse of the gold coin was designed by the Munich artist Erich Ott and shows a portrait of the Aachen Cathedral, which covers almost the entire coin. In a semicircle from left to right the words „WELTERBE DOM ZU AACHEN“ (HERITAGE CATHEDRAL AACHEN) are inscribed and under is the inscription „UNESCO“ .
On the back of the gold coin, just like with all other 100 Euro gold coins, the German federal eagle in a modified form can be found. Under the tail feathers of the eagle in the first line the nominal value "100" is inscribed and in the second line the currency "Euro". In a semicircle from left to right is the inscription „BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND 2012 (FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY 2012). Between the eagle and the words are, also in a semi-circle, the twelve stars of the European Union. Under the left wing of the eagle, pictured right, the particular mint mark - "A" (Berlin), "D" (Munich), "F" (Stuttgart), "G" (Karlsruhe) or "J" Hamburg) - of one of the five mints, that have produced 60,000 coins, can be found.
The edge of the coin is corrugated.
The history of the Aachen Cathedral is directly connected to the Emperor Charlemagne. Around 800, he transformed his father's royal court in Aachen to a palace in the rank of an imperial residence. On the day of his death, on 28 January 814, Emperor Charlemagne was buried in Aachen cathedral, also called St. Mary's Church or Palatine Chapel. The ancient sarcophagus in which Charlemagne was buried, now stands in the Cathedral Treasury.
The coronation of Otto I in 936 marked the beginning of the “Aachen coronations”. This time should last for 600 years until 1531.
30 German kings ascended to the throne from the Carolingian period made of precious marble. In the treasury are numerous unique historic art exhibits made from gold. This is partly due to the fact that is a coronation church as well as a pilgrimage church.
At the heart of the cathedral, the Carolingian octagon, was built by Charles the Great at the end of the 8th Century.
The coin comes in the original box with certificate.
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Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" (in German: Kaiserdom), is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages. For 595 years, from 936 to 1531, the Aachen chapel was the church of coronation for 30 German kings and 12 queens. The church is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Aachen.
Charles the Great (Charlemagne) began the construction of the Palatine Chapel around 796, along with the building of the rest of the palace structures. The construction is credited to Odo of Metz. It suffered a large amount of damage around 881, by the Northmen and was restored in 983. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Gothic additions were added, including the choir in 1355. It was restored again in 1881. The core of the cathedral is the Carolingian Palatine Chapel, which is notably small in comparison to the later additions.
In order to sustain the enormous flow of pilgrims in the Gothic period a choir hall was built: a two-part Capella vitrea (glass chapel) which was consecrated on the 600th anniversary of Charlemagne's death. A cupola, several other chapels and a steeple were also constructed at later dates. In 1978, it was one of the first 12 items to make the entry into the UNESCO list of world heritage sites, as the first German and one of the first three European historical ensembles.
The cathedral uses two distinct architectural styles. First, the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne, modeled after San Vitale at Ravenna and considered to be Carolingian-Romanesque. Secondly, the choir in the Gothic style.