103260 | GERMANY. Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) bronze Medal.

103260  |  GERMANY. Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) bronze Medal. Issued 1855. Most Remarkable Edifices of Europe series (59mm, 83.31 g, 12h). By Jacques Wiener in Brussels and struck at the Geerts mint in Ixelles.

 

DER DOM ZU KÖLN IN SEINER ZUKÜNFTIGEN VOLLENDUNG / UNSERE HOFFNUNG, perspective view of the cathedral exterior from the south-southest, highlighting its ubiquitous single northern tower; in four lines in exergue: GESTOCHEN VON J. WIENER / NACH DEM VOM DOMBAUMEISTER E. F. ZWIRNER / ERGÄNZTEN BAUPLANE / VERLAG VON F. C. EISEN IN KÖLN // JUBELFEIER AM 14 AUG: 1848 DER ERSTEN GRUNDSTEINLEGUNG DES DOMES ZU KÖLN AM 14 AUG: 1248, perspective view of the cathedral exterior from the south-southeast; an additional four years of construction (since Wiener's previous take on this edifice) has taken place and is depicted in a completed south transept façade and additional clerestory-level structure over the nave; in seven lines in exergue, EINWEIHUNG DES HOHEN CHORS AM 27 SEPT: 1322 / OFT UNTERBROCHENER FORTBAU BIS ETWA 1500 / GÄNZLICHER STILLSTAND BIS ZUR ZWEITEN / GRUNDSTEINLEGUNG AM 4 SEPT: 1842 / DURCH FRIEDRICH WILHELM IV / KÖNIG VON PREUSSEN / 1855. Edge: Plain.

 

Ross M151; van Hoydonck 124; Reinecke 27. Gem Mint State. Extremely glossy and brilliant in the fields, with astounding eye appeal. A wondrous representative from the always-popular series, and for this edifice for which there are a number of versions conveying the various states of construction over two decades.

 

Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1996, the Cologne Cathedral stands as the tallest twin-spired church in the world at 515 feet high. This medal conveys the ongoing construction of the project (with the towers finally being completed in 1880). Some depictions of the cathedral (by Wiener and others) from this period feature a large crane on the uncompleted side—a fixture of city's skyline during the moratorium on completion.

 

From what is today eastern Netherlands and western Germany, the Wieners were a Jewish family of exceptional medalists, especially known for numerous numismatic works throughout the Kingdom of Belgium. Eldest brother Jacob (Jacques), along with younger brothers Leopold and Charles, created some of the finest works of medallic art of the 19th century, and all are particularly noted for their work in the highly detailed and intricate work of architectural renderings.

 

Upload: 4 August 2025.