Tien poltura, noodmunt uit Leopoldstadt, geslagen door de ontevredenen in Hongarije 1705

Curator: Oh, this piece whispers stories. I feel its weight, its age... it’s like holding a little piece of rebellion in your palm. Editor: Exactly. We’re looking at a “Tien poltura,” or necessity coin, crafted in 1705 by dissidents in Hungary's Leopoldstadt. Struck from metal and fashioned through engraving, it’s a powerful relic of defiance against the Habsburgs. Curator: Necessity. Right there in the name! Imagine the urgency, the sheer bloody-minded determination to mint your own money! What do you see on its face? For me it’s some kind of serpentine dragon biting itself on the tail. That circular symbol reminds me a lot of endless life. Editor: A fitting reading, indeed! What we observe, artistically rendered in the Baroque style, is a snapshot of political turbulence, where economic independence became a battle cry. The anchor on one side represents stability of shipping, I wonder if those being ruled hoped to sail away one day. The text is a coded message. Curator: Oh, definitely. It’s a tiny act of propaganda, I’d say. But, as someone acutely aware of making one's own symbols to resist something else's, I think a little creative resistance goes a long way, even with coin. You feel the desperation that brought this piece to life, I think. Editor: And that, perhaps, is why it transcends its humble form. It's a window into the lived experiences of those challenging imperial power and how those moments in time make the history we know and tell. Curator: Beautiful. It’s incredible that this tiny, defiant act from so long ago still resonates. You can feel how they had that fierce flame. Editor: Absolutely. This poltura offers a profound insight, transforming something small into a vast mirror reflecting the enduring quest for liberty, or just a good idea about currency in the midst of turmoil. Curator: So true, indeed.