2588) The "Moravian Star", Federal Republic of Germany: Second Christmas silver coin issued by the "Munze Deutschland" (German Mint) highlights the "Moravian Star" which shows the way to the Manger in Bethlehem, where Christ was born: Date/Year of Coin issue: 24.11.2022:
The Header/Banner shows the Reverse & Obverse of the Silver Coin depicting the Moravian Star against a background representation of a Church tower depicting a Bell. The Banner is titled - 'HERRNHUTER STERN" at top right.
On 24.11.2022, the German Federal Republic’s Ministry of Finance and Munze Deutschland have issued the second Christmas-themed coin, which highlights the Moravian Church founded in 1727 and the exquisite star shape referred to as the "Moravian Star".
The story and background of these distinct stars originates from the biblical tradition of the three wise men from the East, who are shown the way to the manger in Bethlehem by the North Star.
This tradition and the uniquely shaped star have their origins in the Moravian Church in the German town of Herrnhut, which was founded in 1727.
A "Moravian Star" (in German "Herrnhuter Stern") is an illuminated Advent, Christmas, or Epiphany decoration popular in Germany and in places in Europe and America where there are Moravian congregations, notably the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania and the area surrounding Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The origins of the Moravian Star traditions:
The German nobleman Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760), who, after meeting with the church’s leader Christian David, invited the refugees from Moravia, part of present-day Czech Republic, to settle on his extended Berthelsdorf estates.
Zinzendorf himself had a new residence built between 1725 and 1727, and thus, the town of Herrnhut was founded in 1722 with the original settlement of religious refugees of the Bohemian Brethren — "Unitas Fratrum".
The word “Herrnhut” translates to “the Lord’s watchful care” or “the Lord’s protection.”
It was eventually in 1727 that the first Moravian Church was established and continued in the traditions of the Hussite Movement founded by Jan Hus in early 15th-century Bohemia and believed to be the oldest active worldwide Protestant Christian denomination now dating back to 1457 in Europe.
Brief history:
The stars take their English name from the Moravian Church, originating in Moravia.
In Germany, they are known as "Herrnhut Stars", (named after the Moravian Mother Community in Saxony, Germany, where they were first commercially produced).
The first Moravian star is known to have originated in the 1830s at the Moravian Boys' School in Niesky, Germany, as a geometry lesson or project.
The first mention is of a 110-point star for the 50th anniversary of the Paedagogium (classical school for boys) in Niesky.
Around 1880, Peter Verbeek, an alumnus of the school, began making the stars and their instructions available for sale through his bookstore.
His son Harry went on to establish the "Herrnhut Star Factory", which was the main source of stars until World War I.
Although heavily damaged at the end of World War II, the Star Factory resumed manufacturing them.
Briefly taken over by the government of East Germany in the 1950s, the factory was returned to the Moravian Church-owned Abraham Dürninger Company, which continues to make the stars in Herrnhut.
Other star-making companies and groups have sprung up since then. Some Moravian congregations have congregation members who build and sell the stars as fund raisers.
Cultural importance:
The star was adopted throughout the Moravian Church as an "Advent symbol".
The use of the stars during the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons is also a tradition in the West Indies, Greenland, Suriname, Labrador, Central America, South and East Africa, Ladakh in India, and in parts of Scandinavia, wherever the Moravian Church has its presence.
The Coin:
The coin’s design is the work of Czech artist Martin Dašek, who combines the local origin of the star with its global impact.
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On the Reverse of the 25 Euro Silver Coin is depicted a combination of the ringing of the bells of the Moravian roof turret with the depiction of the iconographic star, which dynamically approaches the viewer.
The text "HERRNHUTER STERN" (“Herrnhut Star”) is inscribed along the upper periphery towards the left.
The overall design presents a concave indentation and high-relief embossing.
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On the Obverse of the 25 Euro Silver Coin is depicted a stylised Eagle which is off-centred to the right, along with the “A” mintmark (of the Berlin Mint), which is placed below the eagle and to the left.
The Eagle is partially surrounded by 12 five-pointed stars representing the European Union (EU).
The text "BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND – 2022" is placed partially around and along the upper periphery, and the denomination of "25 EURO" is shown below the Eagle.
The specifications of this Silver Coin are:
Country: "Bundesrepublik Deutschland" ("Federal Republic of Germany"); Date/Year of Coin issue: 24.11.2022; Coin Theme: "Moravian Star"; Denomination: 25 Euro; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 22.00 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P) & Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Embossing Quality: Mirror Glass ("Stempelglanz"); Mintage: 100,000 pieces; Designer: Martin Dašek.
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- The 25-euro Proof edition collector’s coin is shipped in a presentation folder, which can also be given as a Christmas card.
- The coin’s capsule is specially designed to both protect the collector coin and to be placed on Christmas trees as a decorative ornament.
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