The Renaissance bridge in Stříbro on a CNB gold coin
The Czech National Bank is today putting into circulation a CZK 5,000 gold coin depicting the Renaissance bridge in Stříbro. The issuing of this gold coin completes the first year of the five-year cycle “Bridges of the Czech Republic”.
“The stone bridge in Stříbro across the River Mže was part of the town’s fortifications and is dominated by a bridge tower. It is the second-oldest bridge in the current gold coin cycle. It has been included among the ten bridges depicted on the gold coins of the cycle for its architectural and historical value,” said CNB Board member Pavel Řežábek, who oversees the activities of the Cash and Payment Systems Department.
The bridge, with its characteristic tower and statue of St. John of Nepomuk, is depicted on the reverse side of the coin. The obverse side is filled with the sgrafitto decoration of the bridge gate along with a composition of heraldic animals from the large national coat-of-arms and the coat-of-arms of the town of Stříbro. Like the first coin of the “Bridges of the Czech Republic” cycle, this coin was designed by the sculptor Zbyněk Fojtů.
The half-ounce coin is minted from 999.9 purity gold in two quality versions. A total of 2,700 pieces are being sold in normal quality, and 7,300 pieces are proof quality coins with a polished field and a matt relief.
The 60-meter-long and 5.8-meter-wide bridge was constructed from sandstone blocks as part of the fortification of Stříbro in 1555–1560. It served as the access route into the town from Prague and Plzeň. The route then continued westwards as a medieval trail. The bridge was used for road transport until 2000, but is now pedestrianised.
The cycle “Bridges of the Czech Republic” follows the previous successful cycles “Ten Centuries of Architecture” and “Industrial Heritage Sites”. It will present a total of ten important Czech bridges on CZK 5,000 gold coins in 2011–2015. Coins featuring the Gothic bridge in Písek and the Renaissance bridge in Stříbro have been issued in 2011.
Marek Petruš, CNB spokesman