ITALY - ITALIE Parma, Maria Luigia (1815-1847). Gold medal, construction of the bridge over the river Taro, by G. A. Santarelli, Special strike (SP) 1818, Florence. Av. M. LVDOV. ARCH. AVSTR. D. G. PARM. PLAC. ET. VAST. DVX. Bust on the right, diademed, hair tied in a bun, with a pearl necklace; below signature SANTARELLI. F. Rv. In a landscape, the bridge over the Taro; in the exergue: TARO. FIRMIVS DENIQVE. REPRESSO M. DCCC.XVIII. Forrer V pp.334-335 - Divo 8 - Br.1811 - Ess.2589 v. - Jul.3640 v. ; Gold - 41,78 g - 41 mm - 12 h Top Pop: the most beautiful graded example! PCGS SP64 (51879659). Special strike (SP). With its original lustre, barely burnished. Almost Fleur de coin. The bridge over the Taro, along the Via Æmilia, built between 1816 and 1821 on the initiative of the government of Maria Luigia, Duchess of Parma and Piacenza, was the longest bridge in Europe at the time, with a length of 150 metres and 20 arches, in brick and ashlar. The texts of the period state that a copy of the 1818 medal was placed in one of the cornerstones by the Duchess.