CATHEDRAL AT AACHEN (AIX-LA-CHAPELLE)

WIENER, Jacques: Germany, 1849, Bronze, 59 mm
Obv: View of exterior of cathedral
Exergue: MÜNSTERKIRCHE ZU AACHEN NACH IHRER WIEDERHERSTELLUNG (Church of Aachen Following its Restoration)
On left:  GESTOCHEN VON J. WIENER (Engraved by Jacques Wiener)
On right:  NACH ZEICHNUNGEN VON T. STEIN (After Drawings by Theodor Stein)
Rev: View of interior
Exergue: INNERES DER MÜNSTERKIRCHE ZU AACHEN DAS OCTOGON ERBAUT VON CARL DEM GROSSEN 796-804. DAS HOHE CHOR GEGRÜNDET DURCH GERHARD CHORUS 1353 BEENDET 1414 (Interior of the Church of Aachen   The Octagon was Built by Charlemagne 796-804.  The High Choir Founded by Gerhard Chorus 1353   Completed 1414)
Ref: Van Hoydonck 46;  Europese Penningen # 70;  Reinecke 20;  Ross M190; Weiss BW243 [Reinecke lists this variety as having been struck in 1853; Ross lists this variety as having been struck in its final form in 1856]

As the legend of the exergue indicates, the Cathedral at Aachen was begun under Charlemagne's auspices in 796. It was almost entirely wrecked by Norman raiders and rebuilt by the Emperor Otto in 983. The octagonal domed structure dates from that period. The Gothic choir was added in the 14th and early 15th centuries. The Barbarossa Chandelier was made on the order of Emperor Frederick I (nicknamed Barbarossa) in the 12th century. The spire is modern and was damaged during World War II, as were the roofs of the chapel and baptistery.  Aachen is not a cathedral in the customary use of the word as Aachen was not a seat of a bishop.

LINK to History of  Ecclesiastic Architecture (from World History at KMLA)

LINK to image of high Gothic choir

LINK to image of Barbarossa chandelier

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