103319 | GERMANY. Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) bronze Medal.

103319  |  GERMANY. Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) bronze Medal. Issued 1861. Most Remarkable Edifices of Europe series (59mm, 90.18 g, 12h). By Jacques Wiener in Brussels and struck at the Geerts mint in Ixelles.

 

Perspective view of the cathedral exterior from the south-southeast; an additional six years of construction (since Wiener's previous take on this edifice) has taken place and is depicted in a completed nave roof, a completed transept roof, flying buttresses emanating from the south transept, and, most evidently, the addition of the tower at the crossing of the transept and nave; in six 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 / KONIG VON PREUSSEN // DER DOM ZU KOELN IN SEINER ZUKUENFTIGEN VOLLENDUNG, perspective view of the cathedral exterior from the south-southeast, highlighting its ubiquitous single northern tower; in three lines in exergue: GESTOCHEN VON J. WIENER / NACH DEM VOM DOMBAUMEISTER E. F. ZWIRNER / ERGAENZTEN BAUPLANE. Edge: Plain.

 

Ross M240 (R1); van Hoydonck –; Reinecke 28. Choice Mint State. Deep brown surfaces, with alluring vibrance and luster evident among the fields. A wonderful 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: 17 February 2026.