Daalder, noodmunt uit Groningen, geslagen tijdens het beleg 1672

Editor: Here we have the "Daalder, noodmunt uit Groningen, geslagen tijdens het beleg," made in 1672. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Made from metal with engraving. Looking at the object, it really speaks of resilience given its creation under duress. How might one contextualize the making and circulation of this coin within the history of the Siege of Groningen? Curator: That’s an excellent observation. This coin isn't just money, it is propaganda; it reflects the socio-political conditions under which it was made. Groningen was under siege in 1672, and the regular money supply was disrupted. Producing these "noodmunt," or emergency coins, was a civic act and declaration of self-reliance. It served to maintain economic activity and morale during a critical moment in Groningen’s history. Look closely: how does the imagery on the coin underscore this point? Editor: I see! One side has a crest and some script while the other features a coat-of-arms… The message here appears more significant than the purely monetary value. Do we know what sort of agency this object had when in circulation? Curator: Exactly. It was powerful precisely because it carried the authority and will of the city government at a time when that authority was severely challenged. Its existence sent a message of defiance, to those within and without. Beyond pure trade value, this becomes currency imbued with social capital. Editor: It's fascinating to think about money in that way - less about fiscal exchange, but how power uses iconography to signal different facets of state power. I’ll definitely be thinking about numismatics in new ways after this. Thanks for pointing out the social underpinnings that give an object like this weight! Curator: You’re welcome. It's crucial to see artifacts not in isolation, but as products and agents within a particular historical and social context. Consider how political crises, such as sieges and war, often precipitate change across various cultural realms, like artistic and monetary forms.