103132 | FRANCE. Paris. Notre-Dame Cathedral bronze Medal.

103132  |  FRANCE. Paris. Notre-Dame Cathedral bronze Medal. Issued 1855. Most Remarkable Edifices of Europe series (59mm, 87.79 g, 12h). By Jacques & Charles Wiener in Brussels and struck at the Geerts mint in Ixelles.

 

NOTRE–DAME CATHEDRAL DE PARIS, exterior view of the cathedral from the south-southeast; in eight lines in exergue, FONDÉE SIÈCLE, RECONSTRUITE 1160 / PAR L'EVÊQUE MAURICE DE SULLY. / TERMINÉE SOUS PHILIPPE AUGUSTE. / AUGMENTÉE SOUS St LOUIS ET DE / SES SUCCESSEURS JUSQU'À 1300. / LA RESTAURATION COMMENCÉE 1845 / VIOLLET–LE DUC LASSUS / ARCHIT // View of the interior looking down the nave toward the apse from an eyepoint just slightly to the right of the center of the center aisle. Edge: Minor rim bruise, otherwise plain.

 

Ross M150 (R1); van Hoydonck 122; Reinecke 40. Mint State. Red-brown surfaces, with some minor rub upon the higher points and some scattered subtle marks in the fields. Compare to a similar example in Coin Galleries (10 September 2008), lot 1641 (which sold for a total of $529) and that same example in Stack's Bowers CCO (22 April 2020), lot 30008 (which sold for a total of $840[!]).

 

In the news during the spring of 2019, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris suffered one of the common problems to threaten churches—fire. A portion of the roof and spire fell victim to the immolation as viewers watched the events unravel on television and online. Efforts to repair and restore the cathedral were recently completed, with an opening ceremony taking place on 7 December 2024.

 

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 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 March 2025.