The coin motif impressively captures the facets of the 1200-year history of the Corvey Monastery. It is clearly and ornamentally designed without sacrificing detail and space. The cavalier perspective makes it possible to visualize the important history of the monastery and palace complex in an exciting way and make it tangible. The federal eagle fits harmoniously into the value side. The basic geometric shape of the picture side is mirrored and forms the framework for the dignified and signet-like implementation of the eagle figure. Both sides of the coin were designed by the Berlin artist Bastian Prillwitz.
The Westwerk is one of the few Carolingian buildings of its time that has been largely preserved. Together with the baroque monastery complex and the princely library of the 19th century, it forms an impressive ensemble of buildings in which 1,200 years of Christian and European history are reflected - honored by the 20 euro silver coin “1200 Years of Corvey Monastery”.
Strategically located at a Weser crossing and at the intersection of two trade routes, the monastery was founded in 822. Thanks to the transfer of relics, it quickly gained outstanding importance as a place of worship and pilgrimage and increasingly became a mission center: in its heyday, up until the 12th century, between 40 and 70 monks lived in the monastery - the sons of noble families. With its famous monastery school, the Benedictine abbey is a center of education and science - and as a monastery palace it also has political power. By the end of the 12th century, kings and emperors visited it around 120 times, and many rulers held imperial diets here.
The Carolingian westwork - a separate, front church room made of red Solling sandstone - dates from the early days of the Benedictine abbey and was built between 873 and 885. It is not only considered the oldest building in Westphalia, but also the oldest building in the West. The central tower and the flanking side towers were the tres turres, the three towers of Corvey, until the mid-12th century when the westwork was converted into the two-tower structure that is still visible today. During its heyday from the 9th to the 12th century, Corvey is considered a milestone on the way to the emergence of Europe and our Christian Western culture.
