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Replica of the Holy Roman Emperor's crown

The copy of the Reichskrone, made for Aachen in 1913 and now in the city's museum, is of very high quality and accurate in every detail. It is not circular as you might expect a crown to be but made up of eight separate panels held together to form an octagon.

This is not only a crown; it is the echo of Charlemagne’s chapel in Aachen and reminiscent of imperial churches in Constantinople and Ravenna.

The four enamel plaques show three Old Testament kings: Solomon, David and Hezekiah. The fourth shows Christ enthroned. The other panels are studded with an array of coloured precious stones; amethysts and malachite, rubies and quartz, crystal and pearls.

  • Neil MacGregor visits Aachen to explore the legacy of Charlemagne and examine a fine replica of the Imperial Crown.

Features about Germany and the objects in this series

  • Beer riots and sausage snacks demonstrate a devotion to the national diet.

  • Degenerate art and other facts from this fascinating nation.

  • See photos and videos of this diverse collection of products and sculptures.

  • A selection of the most striking objects described by Neil MacGregor.

  • Neil MacGregor dips into the British Museum's collection of emergency money or notgeld.

  • See close-up images of the replica Reichskrone now in Aachen.