Daalder, noodmunt uit Deventer, geslagen tijdens het beleg Possibly 1578

This is a silver emergency coin, or Daalder, from Deventer, made by Balthasar Wijntgens, a goldsmith, during the siege of 1591. The coin speaks to a time of conflict and upheaval during the Dutch Revolt. Imagine the fear of the city's inhabitants trapped behind walls. The siege was part of a larger struggle for Dutch independence from Spanish rule. The coin is not just a piece of currency, it’s a symbol of resilience and resistance. The design features the Virgin of Deventer, a figure of hope. The necessity for such coins reveals the extremity of the circumstances - it was made because there was not enough ‘official’ money. Minted in a time of turmoil, this Daalder embodies the intersection of economic necessity and political struggle. It serves as a reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring spirit of those who fought for their freedom.