🇩🇪 100 Euro Wartburg 2011 – 1/2 oz Gold Coin – Germany’s Castle Heritage in Masterful Engraving
The 100 Euro Wartburg 2011 – 1/2 oz Gold Coin is an artfully crafted tribute to German history, architecture, and cultural identity. As part of Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage gold coin series, this issue honors one of the nation’s most significant monuments: Wartburg Castle, towering above the Thuringian landscape and serving for nearly a millennium as a focal point of intellectual, political, and cultural development. The 2011 edition combines historical depth, architectural refinement, and precise engraving to create a work that preserves the importance of this site in pure gold.
Wartburg Castle is regarded as a symbol of German identity. Founded around 1067, it became the stage for pivotal moments in European history. It was home to Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia, whose charitable legacy remains revered. It hosted the great medieval poet Walther von der Vogelweide and the tradition of courtly song. And it was here, in 1521, that Martin Luther translated the New Testament during his exile—a monumental act that shaped the religious and linguistic evolution of the German-speaking world. Each historical era left visible traces in the castle’s architecture, legends, and national significance.
The reverse of the coin depicts Wartburg Castle in a finely detailed architectural engraving. The composition highlights the characteristic structures of the complex: the Palas with its Romanesque windows, the defensive walls, towers, and the striking silhouette rising clearly against the sky. The engraving conveys both the monumentality of the castle and its role as a place of inspiration and refuge. Delicate relief lines allow light and shadow to move across the stonework, giving the depiction a sense of depth and historical resonance. The scene is balanced, calm, and dignified—an image that underscores the castle’s lasting influence on Germany’s cultural memory.
The obverse features the heraldic symbol of the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Eagle, rendered in a clear and powerful form. Beneath it appears the face value of 100 Euro, framed by the traditional inscription “BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND” and the year of issue, 2011. This side follows the classic style of German gold commemoratives, lending the coin a formal and authoritative elegance.
Struck from 99.99% pure gold, the coin possesses a warm, rich luster that enhances the delicate relief elements. The 1/2 oz format offers an ideal surface for capturing the architectural details of the Wartburg while remaining practical and well-balanced in hand. The golden sheen reinforces the castle’s majestic presence and gives the coin a timeless, dignified appearance.
Since 1999, Wartburg Castle has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It embodies the union of intellectual heritage, cultural diversity, and architectural mastery. This coin carries these values forward in concentrated form—paying tribute to a place that inspired legends, influenced artists, and shaped religious and linguistic development.
The 100 Euro Wartburg 2011 – 1/2 oz Gold Coin stands as a golden expression of German history and cultural identity. It unites architecture, memory, and artistic clarity into a masterful collector’s piece that preserves the dignity and importance of Wartburg Castle with refined precision—an enduring fragment of history, safeguarded for generations.
| Metal | Gold |
| Form | Gold Coin |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Verkaufsstelle für Sammlermünzen der BRD |
| Series | 100 Euro |
| Purity | 999.9/1000 |
| Fineweight | 15.55 gram |
| Gross Weight | 15.55 gram |
| Grade | Brilliant |
| Condition | Circulated |
| Face value | 100 Euro |
| Thickness | 1.65 mm |
| Diameter | 28.00 mm |
| Mintage | 200000 |
| Packaging | Capsule with Certificate and Etui |