Notre-Dame de Paris, meaning "Our Lady of Paris", is a Catholic cathedral of medieval times built on the Ile de la Cite in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Its innovative use of the rib vault and flying buttress, its enormous and colourful rose windows, and the naturalism and abundance of its sculptural decoration set it apart from the earlier Romanesque style.

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, where a large fire broke out on Monday evening, is among the most famous landmarks in Paris, drawing about 13 million visitors a year. The 856 years old cathedral is the seat of the archbishop of Paris. The construction of the cathedral began in 1163, during the reign of King Louis VII, and was completed in 1345.

A catastrophic fire engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday, altering the city's skyline and threatening a potent symbol of Catholicism. The fire burned for several hours, destroying the 856-year-old cathedral's iconic spire and roof before firefighters contained the blaze early Tuesday morning.

This iconic landmark has been commemorated on various coins. In 2013, Monnaie de Paris launched gold and silver coins to commemorate the commencement of construction of one of the world’s most notable religious landmarks – that of the Notre Dame Cathedral, located in the heart of Paris.

The obverse of the coins depicts a rendition of stained glass along with impressions of the famous gargoyles and the Virgin Mary with Christ child which is placed off-center to the right of the coin. A commemorative inscription reads “850 ANS” and “NOTRE DAME DE PARIS” in stylized lettering.

The reverse design sees a similar but opposite effect – with the insignia of UNESCO, the year of issue “2013” and the coin’s denomination included in the design. As a design element addition, each €10 silver coin includes translucent applications of enamel to specific areas of the coin’s surface to highlight and enhance the effect of stained glass.

Image Courtesy: Coin Update