Halve daalder, noodmunt uit Haarlem, geslagen tijdens het beleg Possibly 1572

This is a ‘Halve Daalder’, a coin made of silver during the siege of Haarlem in 1572 by Henrick Cornelisz. Leeuwen. Its octagonal shape immediately departs from traditional coin designs, suggesting an urgency and break from established norms. The coin features stamped symbols—a coat of arms and the year—these aren't just decorative; they are signifiers of authority and a moment in time. The raw, almost crude stamping and the irregular edges speak to the socio-political context, reflecting the pressures and constraints of a city under siege. Consider the coin's materiality; the silver, though precious, is roughly handled, its surface worn. This emphasizes the contrast between the coin's intended value and its unrefined execution. The very form of this coin challenges our expectations, prompting us to reconsider how value and authority are communicated through objects during times of conflict.