Ben Weiss writes:

NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS
by Jacques and Charles Wiener: France, 1855, Bronze, 59 mm

Obv: View of exterior NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRALE DE PARIS

Exergue: FONDEE IV SIECLE. RECONSTRUITE 1160 PAR L'EVEQUE MAURICE DE SULLY. TERMINEE SOUS PHILIPPE AUGUSTE. AUMENTEE SOUS ST LOUIS ET DESES SUCCESSEURS JUSQU' A 1300. LA RESTAURATION COMMENCEE 1845. VIOLLET-LEDUC ET LASSUS ARCHIT. (Founded IV century. Reconstructed 1160 by theBishop Maurice de Sully. Completed under Philippe Auguste. Augmented under St Louis and his successors until 1300. The restoration begun 1845 byViollet-le-Duc and J.-B Lassus, Architects)

Rev: View of interior

Signed: J. ET CH. WIENER F.

Ref: Van Hoydonck 122; Eidlitz 176/1044a; Reinecke 40; Weiss BW252

Begun in 1160 and largely completed more than a century later, the early Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame is situated on the Ile de la Cite inParis. It is a fine example of Gothic architecture, noted for its flying buttresses, which were a technical advance providing support, and forthe rose window in the west facade. One of the most daring constructions of its time, it has a wide nave and double ambulatory. The west facade wasimitated in many French churches.

This magnificent cathedral was built on the ruins of previous churches going back at least to the fourth century.

From:
http://www.historicalartmedals.com/MEDAL%20WEB%20ENTRIES/BELGIUM-EUROPEAN%20CATHEDRALS/WIENER-NOTRE%20DAME-BW252.htm

The Monnaie de Paris has launched new silver coins and base metal medallions which are offered for sale to aid in the reconstruction of one of theworld's greatest landmarks. The series of events on the 15th April shocked the world as news reports and videos showed, what, for many wasunthinkable - the day Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris caught fire and burned into the night. Preliminary reports have offered the encouraginginformation that the 850-year-old structure is still sound and can be renovated over what is expected to be a lengthy period of time.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, is, quite simply, the heart and soul of the nation of France. Built more than eight hundred years ago, today itwelcomes each year more than 13 million visitors from all over the world and is the most visited monument in Europe. On the 15th April 2019, aterrible fire destroyed part of the cathedral. The Monnaie de Paris is associated with the reconstruction of this important cultural icon, and it is,without a doubt, a witness to the history of France.

To read the complete article, see:
Notre-Dame Cathedral: Tragic fire prompts Monnaie de Paris to offer silver fundraising coins and medals to aid reconstruction efforts(http://news.coinupdate.com/notre-dame-cathedral-tragic-fire-prompts-monnaie-de-paris-to-offer-silver-fundraising-coins-and-medals-in-aid-of-reconstruction/)

The devastating blaze at the 850-year-old cathedral in Paris is now under control. The fact that its interior and exterior have been digitally3D-mapped means the iconic building could be restored to its former glory.

The scans: An exact digital replica of the building was captured by a (now deceased) architectural historian, Andrew Tallon, in 2015. He usedlasers to map the entire cathedral, measuring the time the laser takes to reach the target and return to create a very precise image.

To read the complete article, see:
This digitalscan of Notre Dame offers hope for its restoration after the fire(https://www.technologyreview.com/the-download/613314/this-digital-scan-of-notre-dame-offers-hope-for-its-restoration-after/)

Notre-Dame is personal to Durand. He's the historian in charge of overseeing historical representations in the blockbuster"Assassin's Creed" franchise, and he spent four years overseeing the creation of "Assassin's Creed Unity" - a game setduring the French Revolution that contains a stunningly accurate depiction of Notre-Dame Cathedral as its centerpiece.

"I think a lot of my colleagues joined me in that same feeling where we didn't know how to react precisely," he said. "Ourfirst thought wasn't on 'Assassin's Creed Unity' until we started seeing the reaction from the fans who started playing again andsharing reactions on social networks. That really surprised us."

In the following days, the French game developer and publisher behind the "Assassin's Creed" games, Ubisoft, pledged half a millionEuros to rebuilding efforts.

The company also offered its expertise, which makes a lot of sense: Two Ubisoft staffers spent "over 5,000 hours" researching Notre-DameCathedral, inside and out.

"Back then we really relied on pictures - photos, videos - of modern day Notre-Dame," Durand said. Ubisoft does have "a hugedatabase" of information on the cathedral, and that could no doubt help in the rebuilding effort, but Durand is skeptical that the Frenchgovernment will come asking.

"I'd be very surprised if the architects that will work on the spire will actually engage us in participating," he said.

To read the complete article, see:
As France rebuilds Notre-DameCathedral, the French studio behind 'Assassin's Creed' is offering up its 'over 5,000 hours' of research on the 800-year-oldmonument (https://www.businessinsider.com/notre-dame-fire-assassins-creed-maxime-durand-ubisoft-interview-2019-4)

To read the complete article, see:
Notre Dame's history is 9 centuriesof change, renovation and renewal (https://theconversation.com/notre-dames-history-is-9-centuries-of-change-renovation-and-renewal-115606)