Gold Coin 5000 CZK Gothic Bridge in Písek 2011 Standard
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Detailed description
1/2 Oz Gold Coin - Bridge in Písek
On the obverse side of the coin is a composition of heraldic animals from the great state emblem, the Czech lion, the Moravian eagle above and the Silesian eagle below. On the left is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk from the bridge in Písek. Around the description is the name of the state "CZECH REPUBLIC", the denomination of the coin with the abbreviation of the monetary unit "5 000 CZK" and the name of the cycle "BRIDGES". The mark of the Czech Mint is at the top of the description.The reverse side of the coin shows a general view of the bridge from above. On the right edge of the coin is the description "GOTHIC BRIDGE IN SAND", on the top left the year of mintage "2011" and next to it the initials ZF of the author of the coin's design, academic sculptor Zbyněk Fojtů.
The stone bridge in Písek (unofficially also the Deer Bridge) is the oldest preserved bridge in the Czech Republic (and for the primacy of the oldest bridge in Central Europe it is fighting with the stone bridge in Reisgau, Germany, which was completely demolished in a flood and rebuilt, so for the inhabitants of Písek the oldest bridge is theirs), bridges the Otava River about 110 km south of the capital Prague.
It is built in Gothic style. On the bridge there are replicas of Baroque statues and crosses.
The bridge was probably built in the 3rd quarter of the 13th century during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II. However, the first written records of the bridge date back to 1348, when it was mentioned by Charles IV, who decreed that fines collected in the city must be used for its maintenance. Interestingly, it was built on dry land. It was only after its completion that the river was artificially diverted into a new channel which passed under the bridge. The bridge became an important link on the Salt Route, which connected the Baltic region with the Mediterranean.
The bridge is 109.75 metres long, including the walls on the left foreland, and 6.25 metres wide. The bridge stands on 6 piers and is formed by 7 arches. One of the outermost arches is larger than the others, (the normal length of an arch is 8.15m versus 13.1m). This arch was designed for raft passage. The original bridge had 2 bridge towers at its ends, which have not survived. The first collapsed in 1768 during a flood and the second was deliberately demolished due to traffic demands in 1825. On the left bank of the river behind the bridge you can see fragments of them, which were fished out of the river bed during one of the many repairs to the bridge.
This product is part of the following product sets:
Bridges of the Czech Republic seriesProduct Specifications
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