The design by artist Christian Dögerl of Marquartstein features the Three Wise Men in the center, with the Baby Jesus in the manger directly below them and two dromedaries in the background. The Star of Bethlehem, with its characteristic tail, shines above the scene. The kings carry their gifts, while the Baby Jesus raises his arms, already signifying his role as the Savior. Of particular interest are the various technical treatments that divide the design into three distinct areas: the kings and the Baby Jesus are rendered in delicate relief, the dromedaries are depicted in a flat, two-dimensional style that suggests spatial depth, and the star is rendered in linear form, thereby emphasizing its significance. The eagle on the face of the coin, with its dignified depiction, corresponds to the national emblem of the Federal Republic of Germany. As with all coins in the “Christmas” series, this is a disc-shaped coin with a particularly three-dimensional appearance. The coin capsule is equipped with an eyelet, so that the coin can be hung on the Christmas tree as an ornament in no time at all.
Matthew reports on the Magi in his Gospel - here they are referred to as Magi: When Jesus had been born in Bethlehem in Judea in the time of King Herod, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We have seen his star rise and have come to pay him homage.” Because the three Magi brought precious gifts with them - gold, frankincense and myrrh - it was concluded in the 2nd/3rd century that they must be kings. The names Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar appear around 500. In the Middle Ages, the story of the Three Wise Men became more and more detailed. In the second half of the 14th century, the Carmelite John of Hildesheim composed a detailed written legend, the imaginative elaboration of which shaped the rest of the Middle Ages. The bones of the three saints were found in Milan as early as 1157. They were transferred to Cologne in 1164, where the Shrine of the Three Kings was built over the following decades until 1220. The increase in the importance of Cologne Cathedral due to the possession of the relics was the decisive impetus for the construction of the new episcopal church. From 1248, the gigantic Gothic cathedral was built as an architectural shrine over the shrine. Today, the reliquary rises behind the high altar and forms the center of the cathedral. The enduring veneration and legendary transfiguration of the Three Wise Men has led to a variety of customs that are deeply rooted in our everyday lives - be it through the interpretation of the figures in art and literature, as namesakes for hospitals or hospices or in today's carol singers: on January 6, girls and boys across Germany go from door to door to collect donations for needy children around the world, leaving the initials of the Three Wise Men in chalk: C*M*B.
