ACROSS ALL OF EUROPETHE MAULBRONN2 EURO COIN

Since February 1, 2013, both of the Maulbronn Monastery UNESCO World Heritage Site's landmarks have been distributed 30 million times around the world. The monastery's two most famous views: the Paradise and the three-bowl fountain, grace the obverse (heads) side of a new 2 euro coin.

Coin depicting fountain house and narthex.

A COIN AS BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG'S AMBASSADOR IN EUROPE

The commemorative coin put into circulation in 2013 as part of the "Die Bundesländer" (The German States) series represents Baden-Württemberg with one of its most important monuments: the former Cistercian monastery at Maulbronn, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The obverse (heads) side design was created by a Baden-Württemberg artist: Eugen Ruhl, a master engraver from Pforzheim. The coin was minted in Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Hamburg.

Fountain house with three-bowl fountain, Maulbronn Monastery

View of the fountain house.

TWO DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS REPRESENT THE MONASTERY

The bimetal coin weighs 8.5 g and has a diameter of 25.75 mm. The edge inscription reads: "UNITY AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM". The obverse (heads) side depicts the 1220 monastery church and narthex (the Paradise) on the right. The narthex is one of Maulbronn's most beautiful early Gothic spaces and is considered one of the most important architectural examples in Maulbronn. The left depicts the three-bowl fountain in the Gothic fountain house. Since its reconstruction in 1878, it has become the monastery's landmark.

Monastery church narthex as seen from the monastery courtyard.

PERFECT ARTISTIC EXECUTION

The creative design for the coin image documents the architectural importance of this cultural monument. Two sights in one: the outside section of the west facade with the church compliments the inside section with the three-bowl fountain. The artist succeeded in realistically portraying the spirit of the entire complex. This combination gave Baden-Württemberg a unique coin, representing a special appreciation for the state.

ALSO OF INTEREST

The monastery's architectural history

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